FISHING  -- Steelhead fishing will close April 1 on the Columbia River from Priest Rapids Dam to Chief Joseph Dam and the Wenatchee, Icicle, Entiat, Methow, Okanogan, and Similkameen rivers, the Washington Fish and Wildlife announced today.

Read on for details. 

The April 1 steelheading closure includes:

• Columbia River from Priest Rapids Dam to 400 feet below Chief Joseph Dam.
• Wenatchee River from mouth to Icicle River Road Bridge.
• Icicle River from mouth to 500 feet downstream of the Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery barrier dam.
• Entiat River upstream from the Alternate Highway 97 Bridge near the mouth to 800 feet downstream of the Entiat National Fish Hatchery outfall.
• Methow River from the mouth to the confluence with the Chewuch River in Winthrop.
• Okanogan River from the mouth upstream to the Highway 97 Bridge in Oroville.
• Similkameen River from the mouth to 400 feet below Enloe Dam.

Reason for action:  The steelhead sport fishery that opened by emergency rule on September 8, 2010, will close effective April 1, 2011. This action is necessary to protect spawning steelhead listed for protection under the federal Endangered Species Act.