2016 west-end salmon seasons released y'day

.... well, except Grays Harbor.....

North Coast rivers:

This is summary of the changes to salmon fisheries in north coastal rivers for 2016. More details will be available in the 2016-17 Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet, which will be available in June.

The state and coastal tribes both agreed to close salmon fishing in coastal rivers during October and November, the peak months when wild coho return.

The daily bag limit will require anglers to release wild coho in all open waters. Only one adult salmon will be allowed per day except in waters where hatchery fish are released (Quillayute, Sol Duc and Salmon rivers).

Quillayute River system –the entire system,including tributaries,will be closed to all fishing from Sept.1 through Nov.30, with the following exceptions:

The Quillayute River and Sol Duc River (up to the concrete pump station at the Sol Duc hatchery) will be remain open Sept. 1-30 and then will re-open Nov. 16 to allow anglers to harvest returning hatchery coho.

The Bogachiel River below the mouth of Mill Creek will open Nov.16.

The Calawah River below Highway 101will open Nov. 16.

....

The Hoh River outside Olympic National Park will close to all fishing on Oct.11 and re-open Nov.21.

....

The state-managed waters of the Queets System will be closed to all fishing Sept.1 through Nov. 30, with the following exceptions:

The state-managed waters of the Salmon River will remain open to salmon fishing through Sept. 30

WOW, Thank god for hunting this fall. Good luck,

SZ

Wow...that's not much.

Fish on...

Todd

Not much at all!!!
Might be in the market for a used hunting rifle, or a used set of golf clubs. Have a bunch of spinners and spoons for trade!!!

Don't think Grays Harbor will look much better; probably worse.

No fishing in October and November. Man, it sucks to be staring that reality in the face.

So fly fishing for sea run cutthroat is closed in September (prime time) as collateral damage because a coho might bite? F'it!

This is the thing that annoys me. I've accepted that salmon need a break this year, and I'm just about prepared to give it to them. That State managers don't go to the mat to preserve some semblance of fishing opportunity where it would be perfectly reasonable, sound management to do so strikes me as proof positive that what the Tribes propose is what goes. Whether that's due to apathy or legitimately having their hands tied, I wonder more and more as the seasons start to take shape.

As someone who just paid over $100 for my new license plus a Discover Pass, under the assumption that SOMETHING would be fishable while salmon weren't, I feel straight up duped. It also makes it pretty clear to me that the reason for the PR campaign WDFW waged to convince anglers to buy their new license early was, indeed, an effort to secure as much revenue as possible before the pathetic excuse for a fall fishing season they knew was coming was announced.

Oh, well. At least I can take comfort in knowing Alaska and BC will get theirs (and ours), like they always do. Who knows? Maybe this will be the year they finally finish off a few endangered Coho runs. This topic always reminds me that the Tribes, obstinate and hypocritical though they have been, are NOT the ones ultimately screwing us out of our opportunity.

Since I'm buying a BC license for steelhead anyway, maybe I should also buy a salmon stamp or endorsement and add a salmon trip to my fishing schedule. I don't have a clue about where to go or how to go about it, but it probably wouldn't be too hard to find out.

Sg