Sockeye Fishery Closed Saturday

In case you missed the emergency rule, as of 12:01 am Saturday morning, sockeye fishing closed on a significant portion the Columbia River.

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife issued an emergency rule this week ordering sockeye fishing to close from the Washington/Oregon border to Chief Joseph Dam.

Aside from the Columbia River, the Similkameen River, Okanogan River, Chelan River, Wenatchee River are also affected by the closure.

Wildlife managers say the reason for action is a revised sockeye salmon forecast of approximately 100,000 for the Columbia River. That is just half of the pre-season forecast of 200,000 fish.

After subtracting fish already harvested, those destined for Lake Wenatchee, and pre-spawn mortality, all remaining sockeye must be directed toward escapement and hatchery broodstock.

You can still go after those summer kings, however, as fishing for summer chinook salmon remains open as specified in the 2017-2018 sport fishing rules pamphlet.