Adult salmon daily limit reduced in the lower Klickitat River & Wind River

Action: Reduces the adult salmon portion of the daily limit to one (1); closes salmon season beginning on May 23, 2024. Delays opening of salmon season in the upper Klickitat River until further notice.

Species affected: Salmon

Location, effective dates, and rules:

From the mouth (Burlington Northern Railroad Bridge) to Fisher Hill Bridge:

Effective April 1 through May 22, 2024: Salmon and hatchery steelhead: Open Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays only. Daily limit two (2), including no more than one (1) adult salmon. Release wild Chinook. Release wild steelhead.
Effective May 23, 2024, until further notice: Salmon: Closed.

From 400 feet upstream of the #5 fishway to boundary markers below Klickitat Salmon Hatchery:
1. Effective May 25, 2024, until further notice: Salmon: Closed.
Reason for action: The estimated return of adult spring Chinook (1,254) to the Klickitat River for 2024 is among the lowest since 2009. Hatchery spring Chinook releases in 2022 were well below program goals. These fish will return as four year-olds in 2024, which represent the largest age group of spring Chinook runs. The reduced contribution of this release to the 2024 return is a likely contributor to the relatively low forecast. Additionally, PIT tagging operations for the 2022 release group were disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic, which will diminish managers’ ability to monitor the return in-season. A conservative management approach will help ensure that hatchery broodstock collection is achieved and provide some initial opportunity to harvest Spring Chinook in the lower river.
Additional information: WDFW will monitor the spring Chinook return and hatchery broodstock collection with co-managers to determine if additional fishery modification is needed. Anglers are reminded to check the Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet for additional information related to the Klickitat River.

Adult salmon daily limit reduced in the Wind River

Action: Reduces the adult salmon portion of daily limit to one (1).

Effective date: March 16, 2024, until further notice.

Species affected: Salmon and steelhead.

Location: Wind River from the mouth to 800 yards downstream of Carson National Fish Hatchery. The mouth of the Wind River is defined by the buoy line markers south of the Highway 14 bridge.

Salmon and hatchery steelhead rules: Daily limit 6. Up to one (1) adult salmon and one (1) hatchery steelhead, or up to two (2) hatchery steelhead may be retained. Release all salmon other than hatchery Chinook and hatchery coho. Release wild steelhead.

Reason for action: The preseason forecast of spring Chinook returning to the Wind River (4,156 adults) indicates that a reduced adult salmon daily limit is needed to provide spring Chinook angling opportunity and help ensure broodstock collection goals at Carson National Fish Hatchery.

Additional information: WDFW will continue to monitor spring Chinook returns with co-managers and National Fish Hatchery staff to determine if further fishery modification is needed. All other permanent rules and closed waters areas remain in effect. Please refer to the Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet for additional information. Anglers are reminded to always check for emergency rule change updates prior to fishing.