February 12, 2003
Actions: Beginning March 1, 2003, the Stillaguamish River mainstem downstream of the Warm Beach-Stanwood Highway will close to fishing for steelhead and the North Fork Stillaguamish River from mouth to the Swede Heaven Bridge will close to all fishing. The closures include the March through May catch-and-release season on the North Fork Stillaguamish River.
Effective closure date:
March 1, 2003 through May 31, 2003 - Stillaguamish River mainstem downstream of the Warm Beach-Stanwood Highway closed to fishing for steelhead.
March 1, 2003 through May 31, 2003 - North Fork Stillaguamish River from mouth to Swede Heaven Bridge, closed to all fishing.
Species affected: Steelhead and all other fish.
Location: Mainstem Stillaguamish River and all sloughs downstream of Warm Beach-Stanwood Highway, and the North Fork Stillaguamish mouth to Swede Heaven Bridge.
Reason for action: The forecast for Stillaguamish River wild winter steelhead returning this winter (2002/2003) is expected to be less than 50 percent of escapement needs. The season closures will eliminate hooking mortality and disruption of spawning of wild steelhead.
Information contact: Curt Kraemer, District Fish Biologist, (425) 775-1311 ext. 101
Effective closure date:
March 1, 2003 through May 31, 2003 - Stillaguamish River mainstem downstream of the Warm Beach-Stanwood Highway closed to fishing for steelhead.
March 1, 2003 through May 31, 2003 - North Fork Stillaguamish River from mouth to Swede Heaven Bridge, closed to all fishing.
Species affected: Steelhead and all other fish.
Location: Mainstem Stillaguamish River and all sloughs downstream of Warm Beach-Stanwood Highway, and the North Fork Stillaguamish mouth to Swede Heaven Bridge.
Reason for action: The forecast for Stillaguamish River wild winter steelhead returning this winter (2002/2003) is expected to be less than 50 percent of escapement needs. The season closures will eliminate hooking mortality and disruption of spawning of wild steelhead.
Information contact: Curt Kraemer, District Fish Biologist, (425) 775-1311 ext. 101