July 17, 2015
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Actions: Adjust fishing rules for trout and/or other species in Sullivan and Asotin creeks and the Walla Walla, Touchet, Tucannon, Spokane, Colville, and Kettle river systems beginning.
Effective Date: July 18, 2015, until further notice.
Locations:
Walla Walla River (Walla Walla Co.) from McDonald Road Bridge to Oregon State Boundary - closed to fishing daily 2 PM to Midnight until further notice.
Touchet River (Columbia/Walla Walla Co.) from mouth to the confluence of the North and South forks - closed to fishing daily 2 PM to Midnight until further notice.
North Fork Touchet River from mouth to Spangler Creek - closed to fishing daily 2 PM to Midnight until further notice.
North Fork Touchet River upsteam from the confluence of Spangler Creek - closed to fishing until further notice.
South Fork Touchet River from mouth to Griffen Fork and above Griffen fork - closed to all fishing until further notice.
Wolf Fork Touchet River from mouth to Coates Creek and Robinson Fork - closed to all fishing until further notice.
Tucannon River (Columbia/Garfield Co.) From Highway 12 Bridge to Cow Camp Bridge - closed to fishing daily 2 PM to midnight until further notice
Asotin Creek and tributaries (Asotin Co.) from mouth to headwaters-closed to all fishing until further notice
Spokane River (Spokane/Lincoln Co.) from upstream Boundary at Plese Flats Day Use Area to Idaho State Boundary - closed to fishing daily 2 PM to midnight until further notice.
Spokane River tributaries, including Little Spokane River and tributaries (Spokane/Pend Oreille/Stevens Co.) from State Route 25 Bridge upstream to Monroe Street Dam-closed to fishing daily 2 PM to midnight until further notice.
Colville River and all tributaries (Stevens Co.) from mouth to headwaters- closed to fishing daily 2 PM to midnight until further notice.
Kettle River and all tributaries (Ferry Co.) from Barstow Bridge to headwaters, all portions contained within the United States - closed to fishing until further notice.
Sullivan Creek and all tributaries (Pend Oreille Co.) from mouth to headwaters - closed to fishing daily 2 PM to midnight until further notice.
Species affected: Adult Spring Chinook and rearing juvenile Steelhead in Southeast Washington streams. Trout, native non-game fish and other gamefish species are present in all referenced streams.
Reason for action: Current drought conditions have increased water temperatures to potentially lethal levels for salmonids and native nongame fishes during periods of each day. The daily "Hoot Owl" closures are intended to reduce angling pressure and potential fish mortality by removing angling during the periods of the day in which fish are stressed from elevated water temperatures. In addition, some streams are closed to angling due to record low flow levels due to a lack of winter snowpack and rainfall. Stream flows have fallen low enough to concentrate fish into small areas of refugia where they are highly susceptible to angling, natural predation and poaching.
Continued monitoring of streams will occur and additional restrictions or closures on streams may be forthcoming for waters in Southeast and Northeast Washington.
Check the fishing hotline at 360-902-2500 or the webpage at https: https://fortress.wa.gov/dfw/erules/efishrules/rules all freshwater.j
Information Contact: Chris Donley Regional Fish Program Manager (509) 892- 1001 X 307, Jeremy Trump District 1(Dayton) Fisheries Biologist (509) 382-1005, Randall Osborne District 2 (Spokane) Fisheries Biologist (509) 892-1001 X 302, Bill Baker District 3 (Colville) Fisheries Biologist (509) 684-2362 X 23
Actions: Adjust fishing rules for trout and/or other species in Sullivan and Asotin creeks and the Walla Walla, Touchet, Tucannon, Spokane, Colville, and Kettle river systems beginning.
Effective Date: July 18, 2015, until further notice.
Locations:
Walla Walla River (Walla Walla Co.) from McDonald Road Bridge to Oregon State Boundary - closed to fishing daily 2 PM to Midnight until further notice.
Touchet River (Columbia/Walla Walla Co.) from mouth to the confluence of the North and South forks - closed to fishing daily 2 PM to Midnight until further notice.
North Fork Touchet River from mouth to Spangler Creek - closed to fishing daily 2 PM to Midnight until further notice.
North Fork Touchet River upsteam from the confluence of Spangler Creek - closed to fishing until further notice.
South Fork Touchet River from mouth to Griffen Fork and above Griffen fork - closed to all fishing until further notice.
Wolf Fork Touchet River from mouth to Coates Creek and Robinson Fork - closed to all fishing until further notice.
Tucannon River (Columbia/Garfield Co.) From Highway 12 Bridge to Cow Camp Bridge - closed to fishing daily 2 PM to midnight until further notice
Asotin Creek and tributaries (Asotin Co.) from mouth to headwaters-closed to all fishing until further notice
Spokane River (Spokane/Lincoln Co.) from upstream Boundary at Plese Flats Day Use Area to Idaho State Boundary - closed to fishing daily 2 PM to midnight until further notice.
Spokane River tributaries, including Little Spokane River and tributaries (Spokane/Pend Oreille/Stevens Co.) from State Route 25 Bridge upstream to Monroe Street Dam-closed to fishing daily 2 PM to midnight until further notice.
Colville River and all tributaries (Stevens Co.) from mouth to headwaters- closed to fishing daily 2 PM to midnight until further notice.
Kettle River and all tributaries (Ferry Co.) from Barstow Bridge to headwaters, all portions contained within the United States - closed to fishing until further notice.
Sullivan Creek and all tributaries (Pend Oreille Co.) from mouth to headwaters - closed to fishing daily 2 PM to midnight until further notice.
Species affected: Adult Spring Chinook and rearing juvenile Steelhead in Southeast Washington streams. Trout, native non-game fish and other gamefish species are present in all referenced streams.
Reason for action: Current drought conditions have increased water temperatures to potentially lethal levels for salmonids and native nongame fishes during periods of each day. The daily "Hoot Owl" closures are intended to reduce angling pressure and potential fish mortality by removing angling during the periods of the day in which fish are stressed from elevated water temperatures. In addition, some streams are closed to angling due to record low flow levels due to a lack of winter snowpack and rainfall. Stream flows have fallen low enough to concentrate fish into small areas of refugia where they are highly susceptible to angling, natural predation and poaching.
Continued monitoring of streams will occur and additional restrictions or closures on streams may be forthcoming for waters in Southeast and Northeast Washington.
Check the fishing hotline at 360-902-2500 or the webpage at https: https://fortress.wa.gov/dfw/erules/efishrules/rules all freshwater.j
Information Contact: Chris Donley Regional Fish Program Manager (509) 892- 1001 X 307, Jeremy Trump District 1(Dayton) Fisheries Biologist (509) 382-1005, Randall Osborne District 2 (Spokane) Fisheries Biologist (509) 892-1001 X 302, Bill Baker District 3 (Colville) Fisheries Biologist (509) 684-2362 X 23