AS THE STATE’S last true wild steelhead fishing outpost, West End rivers tend to see serious crowds each winter.
Those promise to return this year as well, especially since the state Department of Fish and Wildlife will close numerous Puget Sound area rivers to all fishing earlier than expected next month to protect wild winter steelhead.
The early closures, announced Tuesday by Fish and Wildlife, affect several streams along the Strait of Juan de Fuca as well as the Nooksack, Snohomish, Stillaguamish and Skagit river systems.
Most rivers will close Feb. 1, although some waters near state fish hatcheries will remain open through Feb. 15 to give anglers a shot at more hatchery steelhead.
The state’s preseason estimates indicate wild steelhead will return in numbers far short of target levels, state Fish Program Assistant Director Jim Scott said in a news release.
Thus, the closures are an attempt to meet the conservation objectives of the statewide steelhead management plan and comply with provisions of the federal Endangered Species Act.
“We’re closing these rivers early because of conservation concerns,” Scott said.
“With low numbers of wild steelhead expected back, we need to take this action to protect those wild fish that do return.”
Wild steelhead typically begin to arrive in large numbers to state rivers in February.
The early closures are timed to coincide with those traditional dates.
Among the area rivers to close Feb. 1 are Dungeness River, Morse Creek (from mouth to Port Angeles Dam), Salt Creek (from mouth to Highway 112 bridge), Deep Creek, Pysht River, Clallam River and Sekiu River.
Earlier action
It would seem safe to assume those actions will only add to the frenzy sure to reappear out west this February.
Further affecting matters: A state rule change from 2010 that reduced the length of wild steelhead season on the Peninsula.
That measure cut out the first 2 ½ months of the native fishery on the Bogachiel, Calawah, Clearwater, Dickey, Hoh, Quillayute, Quinault and Sol Duc rivers.
Those streams — the only eight in the state that allow anglers to retain wild steelhead — won’t open to such fishing until Feb. 16 (as opposed to Dec. 1 in previous seasons).
Wild steelhead returning to most of the rivers scheduled to close in February are listed as “threatened” under the ESA.
Such is not the case with the eight West End rivers listed above . . . for now.
After all, the number of “healthy” Peninsula rivers that allow native retention has been reduced from 16 to eight since 2004.
That includes the elimination of two other area rivers (Pysht and Hoko) from such regulations during the past year.
For more information on the closures, check the emergency rule changes on Fish and Wildlife’s website at http://tinyurl.com/4wjqndr.
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Matt Schubert is the outdoors and sports columnist for the Peninsula Daily News. His column regularly appears on Thursdays and Fridays. He can be reached at matt.schubert@peninsuladailynews.com.
