FISHING -- It's official. A change that restores catch-and-release fishing in the lower Grande Ronde River through December is being posted by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to correct a misunderstanding and misprint in the 2015-2016 Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet.

See details on the change and why it's an issue in my Sunday Outdoors column.

Below you'll see an explanation from the WDFW that's being posted today.   Note that the official rule change posted with the fishing regulations online doesn't mention catch and release specifically (instead it refers to keeping no trout over 20 inches) because of legal red tape with the way the law is written. That will be corrected next year.

But first: The issue brings up the questions:

• Would mandatory retention of hatchery steelhead help spread out pressure on the Lower Grande Ronde River?
• Are angler ethics alive and well on the Grande Ronde, or have they deteriorated?

Also, just an FYI: The Ronde was at record low-flow level last night.

Here's the explanation for rule change from WDFW

Corrects pamphlet description of lower

Grande Ronde River fishing rules

Action: Corrects fishing regulations for trout (including steelhead) in the 2015-16 Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet for the lower portion of the Grande Ronde River, from the mouth upstream to the County Road Bridge.

The correct fishing regulations for that section of the lower Grande Ronde River are:

• ALL SPECIES – Sept. 1-May 31: selective gear rules. Sept. 15-March 15: internal combustion motors prohibited.
• TROUT – April 16-Dec. 31: Minimum size 10”, maximum size 20”. Daily limit 2. No minimum size for TROUT with clipped adipose fin and a healed scar at the location of the clipped fin. Catch and release for steelhead.
• TROUT – Jan. 1-April 15: Minimum size 10.” Daily limit 2, except up to 3 hatchery STEELHEAD may be retained. No minimum size for TROUT with clipped adipose fin and a healed scar at the location of the clipped fin. Mandatory hatchery STEELHEAD retention.
• OTHER GAME FISH – Year-round. Statewide min. size/daily limit. No size restrictions or daily limit for BASS, CHANNEL CATFISH, and WALLEYE.

Effective date: Immediately.

Species affected:  Trout and steelhead.

Reason for action: The 2015-16 Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet incorrectly states that steelhead retention is allowed year round in the lower Grande Ronde River. The correct fishing rule in the lower Grande Ronde River requires anglers to release all steelhead from April 16-Dec. 31. In addition, a new rule requiring mandatory retention of hatchery steelhead is in place from Jan. 1-April 15 on that portion of the river.

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