WENATCHEE — Hatchery steelhead fishing opened today on the upper Columbia, Wenatchee, Entiat, Methow and Okanogan rivers, as well as Icicle Creek near Leavenworth.
The openings were announced late Monday by the state Department of Fish and Wildlife. On all the waterways, the daily limit is four adipose-fin-clipped hatchery steelhead. Each must measure at least 20 inches in length. Steelhead with an intact adipose fin must be released unharmed without being removed from the water. Anglers also are required to release any steelhead with one or more round holes punched in the tail fin. The opening is the result of a strong run of wild and hatchery-produced steelhead returning to the upper Columbia, said Jim Scott, assistant director of the state’s fish program, in a press release from the department. More than 33,000 summer steelhead had been counted at Priest Rapids Dam through Sept. 22, well above the overall return’s 10-year average of nearly 14,500.
Fishing is scheduled to close on March 31.
• Columbia River: From Rock Island Dam to 400 feet below Chief Joseph Dam.
• Wenatchee River: From the mouth to a sign about 800 feet below Tumwater Dam.
• Icicle Creek: The Icicle will be open through Nov. 15 from the mouth to 500 feet downstream of the U.S. Hatchery barrier dam.
• Entiat River: Upstream from the Alternate Highway 97 Bridge near the mouth of the Entiat River to 800 feet downstream of the U.S. Fish Hatchery outfall.
