Tucannon River fisheries to close March 1

February 18, 2014

Action: All fishing on the Tucannon River, including hatchery steelhead and whitefish fishing, will close until the first Saturday in June.

Effective Dates: 12:01 a.m. March 1 through June 6, 2014.

Species affected: All fish species

Locations: Tucannon River (Columbia / Garfield Co.)

Reason for action: A large component of Tucannon River wild steelhead enters the river in March. The recreational hatchery steelhead fishery emphasizes the removal of hatchery fish to prevent them from spawning. The incidental impact to wild steelhead from a recreational fishery is anticipated to increase to unacceptable levels in March. The fishery is being closed to conserve this weak stock of wild steelhead.

Other information: The Tucannon River will reopen the first Saturday in June when game fish seasons open as identified in the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Fishing pamphlet.

Information contact: For more information, contact Glen Mendel, District 3 Fish Biologist at (509) 382-1005.

Fishers must have a current Washington fishing license, appropriate to the fishery. Check the WDFW "Fishing in Washington" rules pamphlet for details on definitions and regulations. Fishing rules are subject to change. Visit wdfw.wa.gov/fishing-hotlines to find a list of mobile, web, print, or customer service phone options for the latest rule information.

Request this information in an alternative format or language at wdfw.wa.gov/accessibility/requests-accommodation, 833-885-1012, TTY (711), or CivilRightsTeam@dfw.wa.gov.