WDFW FISHING RULE CHANGE
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091
http://wdfw.wa.gov June 29, 2011
Mandatory release of tagged salmon
Action: Release all chinook and sockeye with external floy (anchor) tags attached.
Effective dates: July 1 through Oct 15, 2011.
Species affected: Chinook and sockeye salmon.
Location: Mainstem Columbia River from Priest Rapids Dam upstream to Hwy 17 Bridge in Bridgeport, including the Similkameen and Okanogan Rivers.
Reason for action: The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is conducting a fish-marking on chinook salmon and the Yakama Nation is marking sockeye salmon to study survival and migration patterns within the Columbia River system. Radio, temperature and acoustic tags will be attached to adult chinook and sockeye, which will be identified by a colored external floy (anchor) tag located near the dorsal fin. The success of these studies is dependent upon the angler’s ability to recognize these tags and to release the fish back into the river as quickly as possible.
Other information: Signs will be posted at all boat launches with additional information concerning these ongoing studies. Anglers, upon identifying a tagged fish, are required to release the fish immediately, preferably without removing it from the water.
Information contact: Bob Jateff, District 6 Fish Biologist, Twisp, (509) 997-0316 or Jeff Korth, Region 2 Fish Program Manager, Ephrata, (509) 754-4624
