FISHING -- Steelhead and whitefish seasons will close on the upper Columbia River and tributaries on March 31 to protect steelhead spawning, the Washington Fish and Wildlife Department said announed Wednesday.

The closure affects the mainstem Columbia from Rock Island Dam upstream to Chief Joseph Dam area as well as portions of the Wenatchee, Icicle, Entiat, Methow, Okanogan and Similkameen rivers.

See details below in the announcement released today:

Action:  Closure of steelhead and whitefish fishing on the upper Columbia River including the Wenatchee, Entiat, Methow, Okanogan, and Similkameen rivers.
 
Species affected:  Steelhead and whitefish.
Effective dates:  One hour after official sunset on March 31, 2015.
 
Locations:

1. Mainstem Columbia River:  From Rock Island Dam upstream to 400 feet below Chief Joseph Dam.

2. Wenatchee River:  From the mouth to the Wenatchee River 400 feet below Tumwater Dam, including the Icicle River from the mouth to 500 feet downstream of the Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery Barrier Dam.

3. Entiat River:  From the mouth to approximately ½ mile upstream to a point perpendicular with the intersection of the Entiat River Road and Hedding Street.

4. Methow River: From the mouth to the confluence of the Chewuch River in Winthrop.

5. Okanogan River: From the mouth to the Highway 97 Bridge in Oroville.

6. Similkameen River: From the mouth to 400 feet below Enloe Dam.

 Reason for action:  The season is closed to minimize impacts to spawning steelhead.

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