July 17, 2023
Action: Closes all fishing. Adds South Fork Skykomish, above Sunset Falls to other Snohomish system closures.
Species affected: All species.
Effective dates: Immediately, until further notice.
Locations closed to all fishing:
- Snohomish River, from mouth upstream;
- Snoqualmie River, from mouth to Snoqualmie Falls;
- Skykomish River, from mouth to Hwy US2 bridge (above Big Eddy);
- Skykomish River, North Fork;
- Skykomish River, South Fork, from mouth upstream
- Cherry Creek, from mouth upstream;
- Raging River, from mouth upstream;
- Sultan River;
- Tolt River, from mouth to confluence of North and South Forks;
- Wallace River, from mouth to 200’ upstream of water intake of salmon hatchery.
Reason for action: Chinook are being hauled upstream from the Sunset Falls trap and haul facility and are susceptible to fishing pressure. Limited allowable take of wild Chinook in the Snohomish system necessitates strict controls to conserve impacts for pink and coho fisheries this fall.
Additional information: The Snohomish wild Chinook population saw a record low return of 1,023 in 2019 – the year when dominant age class 4-year-old Chinook returning in 2023 would have been hatched – and there is now significant concern for a poor return of wild Chinook to the Snohomish and its tributaries this year. See also: https://wdfw.medium.com/snohomish-basin-salmon-steelhead-fisheries-limited-to-protect-wild-chinook-f0b21fbec6c.
Skykomish River, from U.S. Hwy. 2 upstream to the forks, will open as scheduled, fishing from floating device and bait prohibited.
Information contact: Team Mill Creek, 425-775-1311