Grays Harbor closures

[Martinhunter]

Was just wondering how long you guys think the chehalis will be shut down? The fish and game are saying until further notice which is fine for the coho sake but I'm concerned if the closure will cut into our steelhead season on the chehalis? I personally love fishen the chehalis for steelhead in December through March. You guys think it'll stay shut down well into next year?

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

Depends on how the netting issue is resolved...
Weird how one group wants fishing rights while another group loses fishing privilege.
  

[wildmanoutdoors]

What netting issue? The QIN have agreed to not net. They will revisit the run in mid November.

[Martinhunter]

Wow really, well how thoughtful of them.

[Hunterman]

The e-mail I just read is that the state "CLOSED ALL OF GRAY HARRBOR" to ALL fishing. So much for sea bass this winter.

Hunterman(Tony)

[JimmyHoffa]

The news release says salmon fishing for Grays Harbor/rivers/tributaries.  Is there a link to more info for the closure of all fishing or that of steelhead?
I wonder how much is just fish arriving late?  Some of the coast rivers don't get the big numbers of silvers until another week or two.

[Westside88]

I saw something posted on the northwest fishing board of piscatorial pursuits that basically said the Quinault Tribe asked the game department to shut down steelhead too to avoid coho mortality while their nets were out. The game department basically stated they would have a hard time keeping the river closes if and when the escapement and egg quotas were met. Either way I would think that Steelhead in December may be ok, most Coho have returned by then. I wish I could believe that they are just late, but it doesn't seem that way. I wonder if some of the major flooding issues we've had are showing their effects along with El Niņo

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

What netting issue? The QIN have agreed to not net. They will revisit the run in mid November.

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,184454.0.html

[Squidward]

It's not the rivers that are closed until the 30th, its the Salmon fishing as of the 26th. Rivers are still open to trout fishing until the 30th, this would includes Steelhead.
there are silvers going up the main stream after this last rain.

[WSU]

It's not the rivers that are closed until the 30th, its the Salmon fishing as of the 26th. Rivers are still open to trout fishing until the 30th, this would includes Steelhead.
there are silvers going up the main stream after this last rain.

No, they aren't.  That was closed too in a later announcement.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

 

It's not the rivers that are closed until the 30th, its the Salmon fishing as of the 26th. Rivers are still open to trout fishing until the 30th, this would includes Steelhead.
there are silvers going up the main stream after this last rain.

No, they aren't.  That was closed too in a later announcement.

Fishing to close in Grays Harbor and all tributaries

Action:


(1) Grays Harbor Catch Area 2-2 and all tributaries: Closed to all fishing.

(2) The following rivers and their tributaries: Humptulips, Hoquiam, Wishkah, Chehalis, Wynoochee, Satsop, Black, Skookumchuck, Newaukum, Johns and Elk rivers, and Van Winkle Creek: Closed to all fishing.

Effective Date: Oct. 30, 2015, until further notice.

Species affected: All species.

Location: Grays Harbor catch area 2-2, Humptulips, Hoquiam, Wishkah, Chehalis, Wynoochee, Satsop, Black, Skookumchuck, Newaukum, Johns and Elk rivers, Van Winkle Creek, and their tributaries.

Reason for action: In-season run size assessments conducted by WDFW indicate that coho run sizes are significantly below pre-season forecasts.  Conservation objectives may not be achieved for coho if this action is not taken.

Other information:  WDFW will continue to monitor the progress of the Grays Harbor coho run.

Information contact: Mike Scharpf, (360) 249-1205.

[JimmyHoffa]

Heard that the Quinaults are even stopping fishing on the Queets and its tribs now.  So, maybe expect the WDFW to close Queets, Clearwater and Salmon rivers?  But Quinault river will still be fished?

[Sitka_Blacktail]

Heard that the Quinaults are even stopping fishing on the Queets and its tribs now.  So, maybe expect the WDFW to close Queets, Clearwater and Salmon rivers?  But Quinault river will still be fished?

That would be the Hoh Tribe I believe.

[JimmyHoffa]

That has a date of 2002.
I think there were a bunch of different tribes that were all under the same treaty as Quinault and are supposed to use the reservation.  The powers at the time just made one big rez instead of giving all the coastal tribes their own land.  But they have been trying to be more autonomous per band(?) over the years.  I think park would close Queets, but then WDFW would have to close the tribs, Salmon and Clearwater.  So....all the people displaced by Grays Harbor Closure and Queets closure would go to the Hoh or Quileute systems (I'm guessing) and a closure would follow there too?

[Coastal_native]

The Quinaults shut down the stretch of Queets on the rez to both gill netting and  guides.