WDFW Fishing Rule Change: Sections of the Stillaguamish River, tributaries to re

[Pacific NW Ron]

WDFW FISHING RULE CHANGE   
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091
http://wdfw.wa.gov

May 7, 2019

Sections of the Stillaguamish River, tributaries to remain closed to fishing for trout and gamefish

Action:  Several sections of the Stillaguamish River and its tributaries will not open to fishing for trout and other gamefish on May 25 (as scheduled in the pamphlet) to protect returning wild chinook salmon. 

Effective date: May 25 through Sept. 15, 2019.

Species affected: Trout and other gamefish.

Locations:  The following sections of the Stillaguamish River and its tributaries will remain closed from May 25-Sept. 15, 2019 to fishing for trout and other gamefish. WDFW plans to re-open these sections beginning Sept. 16, under permanent regulations.
•Boulder River (Snohomish County), from mouth to Boulder Falls: closed to fishing.
•Canyon Creek (Snohomish County), from mouth to forks: closed to fishing.
•Pilchuck Creek (Skagit/Snohomish counties), from the mouth to the Highway 9 bridge: closed to fishing. 
•Squire Creek (Snohomish County): closed to fishing.
•Stillaguamish River (Snohomish County), from Marine Drive to forks: closed to fishing.
•Stillaguamish River, North Fork (Snohomish County), from mouth to North Fork Falls (approximately 1 mile above Cascade Creek): closed to fishing.
•Stillaguamish River, South Fork (Snohomish County), from the mouth to 400 feet below the Granite Falls Fishway outlet: closed to fishing.

The following sections of the Stillaguamish River and Pilchuck Creek (a tributary of the Stillaguamish River) will open/remain open as described in the sportfishing rules pamphlet.
•Pilchuck Creek (Skagit/Snohomish counties), from the Highway 9 Bridge to Pilchuck Falls will open the Saturday before Memorial Day as described in permanent regulations, with selective gear rules and a 14 inch minimum size for cutthroat and wild rainbow trout.
•Stillaguamish River, South Fork from the Mountain Loop Hwy Bridge upstream: trout and other gamefish will open the Saturday before Memorial Day as described in the permanent regulations.
•Stillaguamish River, mainstem and all sloughs downstream of Marine Drive (south of Stanwood): Open year-round to fishing for trout and gamefish under permanent regulations as described in the sportfishing rules pamphlet.

Reason for action: Restrictions on gamefish seasons are made to minimize impacts on listed Stillaguamish chinook that are forecast to have fewer than 400 wild fish returning this year to spawn. 

Additional information: These changes were agreed to during the North of Falcon process.

Information contact: Region 4 Mill Creek Office: (425) 775-1311.