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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

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Steelhead fishing rules changing on Tucannon River

Wild steelhead. (Associated Press)
Wild steelhead. (Associated Press)

FISHING -- Tucannon River angers will have new restrictions starting Tuesday, Sept. 1, in order to offer further protection to wild steelhead. 

Here are the details from from the  Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife:

Action: Rule changes for steelhead fishery and other game fish.

Effective dates:  Sept.1, 2015, until further notice       

Species affected:  Hatchery steelhead (with missing adipose fin) and all other gamefish.

  1. Daily Limit is reduced to 2 hatchery steelhead per day.
  2. Mandatory hatchery steelhead retention is required.
  3. Barbless hooks are required while fishing for steelhead.
  4. Release all wild steelhead.
  5. The area from Marengo (at Turner Road Bridge) upstream is closed to fishing.

Reason for action: Natural-origin steelhead returns to the Tucannon River are not meeting management goals for conservation and therefore the fishery for hatchery steelhead must be modified to provide more protection of naturally produced steelhead in the Tucannon River.  Emergency rules are intended to focus the fishery on removal of stray hatchery steelhead that primarily enter the Tucannon River in the late summer/fall and to prevent them from spawning, as well as provide a refuge area above Marengo to protect early returning wild steelhead, and close the fishery before March when most of the wild steelhead return to the Tucannon River.

Other information: Anglers must cease fishing for steelhead for the day once they have retained 2 hatchery steelhead or their 2-trout per day limit.  Adipose fin-clipped fish must have a healed scar at the location of the missing fin.  All steelhead with unclipped adipose fins must be immediately released unharmed.  In addition, anglers cannot remove any steelhead from the water unless it is retained as part of the daily bag limit.  Anglers should be sure to identify their catch because chinook and coho salmon, as well as bull trout are also present in the Tucannon River during this steelhead fishery.

Refer to the 2015/2016 sport fishing rules pamphlet for other regulations, including possession limits, safety closures. 



Rich Landers
Rich Landers joined The Spokesman-Review in 1977. He is the Outdoors editor for the Sports Department writing and photographing stories about hiking, hunting, fishing, boating, conservation, nature and wildlife and related topics.

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