Much of the Quillayute River system reopened to fishing Saturday following closures for low water levels.
The Quillayute River, as well as sections of the Sol Duc, Bogachiel, Calawah and Dickey rivers, reopened for fishing, but anglers must release all chinook salmon, the state Department of Fish and Wildlife announced Friday.
Olympic National Park has closed recreational fishing at its sections of the Quillayute and Dickey rivers until Monday.
Fish and Wildlife, Olympic National Park and the Quileute Tribe closed these rivers to fishing Oct. 16 when low river flows impeded salmon returning to spawning grounds.
“With river levels on the rise, most chinook have moved upstream to the spawning areas, allowing us to reopen these areas to fishing,” said Annette Hoffmann, regional fish program manager for state Fish and Wildlife. “However, we want to protect chinook that may still be in these areas, so we’re requiring anglers to release any chinook they catch.”
Rivers that reopened to fishing Saturday include:
• Quillayute River.
• Sol Duc River downstream of the concrete pump station at the Sol Duc Hatchery.
• Bogachiel River downstream of the Highway 101 bridge.
• Calawah River downstream of the Highway 101 bridge.
• Dickey River from the Olympic National Park boundary upstream to the confluences of the East and West forks.
The Hoh and South Fork Hoh rivers are open to fishing.
For more information, including daily catch limits, check the department’s fishing rule updates at fortress.wa.gov/dfw/erules/efishrules.
