Chehalis River to re-open for fishing
Aberdeen, WA – The lower Chehalis will open for fishing soon, with a date set for the remainder of the river and tributaries.
The Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife have announced that the lower Chehalis River will re-open to fishing on August 1st. When the waterway is able to be fished again, it will be under new permanent rules.
The Chehalis River Bridge to the South Elma Bridge will open first, although the entire waterway will be subject to permanent rules, listed in the 2019-20 Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet.
WDFW says, “The abundance of spring Chinook is far below the escapement goal of 1,400 fish. As returning fish move farther upstream, it is possible to begin opening lower sections to angling while upstream and tributary closures achieve conservation objectives by protecting staging spring Chinook from fishing pressure.”
According to WDFW, staggered openings are necessary in order to protect spring Chinook returning to the waterway.
Remaining sections of the upper Chehalis and tributaries will reopen on the following dates:
- Chehalis River, from South Elma Bridge (Wakefield Road) to Black River, including all channels, sloughs, and interconnected waterways: Sept. 16, 2019.
- Chehalis River, from Black River upstream: Oct. 1, 2019.
- Chehalis River, South Fork: Oct. 1, 2019.
- Newaukum River, including South Fork and North Fork: Oct. 16, 2019.
- Skookumchuck River: Oct. 16, 2019.
Anglers are reminded to always check for emergency rule changes prior to fishing. Rule changes can be found online at https://fortress.wa.gov/dfw/erules/efishrules/ or by calling the fishing hotline at 360-902-2500.
| CHEHALIS RIVER – Grays Harbor Co. from mouth (Hwy. 101 Bridge in Aberdeen) upstream to Hwy. 107 Bridge including all channels, sloughs, and interconnected waterways (317) | ALL SPECIES Anglers may fish with two poles with Two-Pole Endorsement.
Aug. 1-Nov. 30 Single-point barbless hooks required. TROUT Sat. before Memorial DayApr. 15 Statewide min. size/daily limit, except cutthroat trout and wild rainbow trout: min. size 14″. OTHER GAME FISH Sat. before Memorial DayApr. 15 Statewide min. size/daily limit. SALMON Aug. 1-Sept. 15 Min. size 12″. Daily limit 6. Release adults. Sept. 16-Dec. 31 Min. size 12″. Daily limit 6. Up to 2 adults may be retained. Release Chinook. STURGEON Sat. before Memorial DayApr. 15 Catch-and-release. Fishing for sturgeon allowed 24hrs/day. |
| from Hwy. 107 Bridge to South Elma
Bridge (Wakefield Rd.) including all channels, sloughs, and interconnected waterways (317) |
ALL SPECIES Anglers may fish with two poles with Two-Pole Endorsement.
Aug. 1-Nov. 30 Single-point barbless hooks required. TROUT Sat. before Memorial DayApr. 15 Statewide min. size/daily limit, except cutthroat trout and wild rainbow trout: min. size 14″. OTHER GAME FISH Sat. before Memorial DayApr. 15 Statewide min. size/daily limit. SALMON Aug. 1-Sept. 15 Min. size 12″. Daily limit 6. Release adults. Sept. 16-Dec. 31 Min. size 12″. Daily limit 6. Up to 2 adults may be retained. Release Chinook. STURGEON Sat. before Memorial DayApr. 15 Catch-and-release. Fishing for sturgeon allowed 24hrs/day. |
| from South Elma Bridge (Wakefield Rd.) to Black River including all channels, sloughs, and interconnected waterways (317) | ALL SPECIES Aug. 1-Nov. 30 Single-point barbless hooks required.
TROUT Sat. before Memorial DayApr. 15 Statewide min. size/daily limit, except cutthroat trout and wild rainbow trout: min. size 14″. OTHER GAME FISH Sat. before Memorial DayApr. 15 Statewide min. size/daily limit. SALMON Sept. 16-Dec. 31 Min. size 12″. Daily limit 6. Up to 2 adults may be retained. Release Chinook. STURGEON Sat. before Memorial DayApr. 15 Catch-and-release. Fishing for sturgeon allowed 24hrs/day. |
| from the Black River upstream to the Hwy. 6 bridge near the town of Adna (315) | ALL SPECIES Aug. 16-Nov. 30 Single-point barbless hooks required.
TROUT Sat. before Memorial DayApr. 15 Statewide min. size/daily limit, except cutthroat trout and wild rainbow trout: min. size 14″. OTHER GAME FISH Sat. before Memorial DayApr. 15 Statewide min. size/daily limit. SALMON Oct. 1-Dec. 31 Min. size 12″. Daily limit 6. Up to 2 adults may be retained. Release Chinook. STURGEON Sat. before Memorial DayApr. 15 Catch-and-release. Fishing for sturgeon allowed 24hrs/day. |
| from the Hwy. 6 Bridge near the town of Adna upstream to the high bridge on Weyerhaeuser 1000 line (315) | ALL SPECIES Aug. 16-Nov. 30 Single-point barbless hooks required.
TROUT Sat. before Memorial DayApr. 15 Statewide min. size/daily limit, except cutthroat trout and wild rainbow trout: min. size 14″. OTHER GAME FISH Sat. before Memorial DayApr. 15 Statewide min. size/daily limit. SALMON Oct. 1-Dec. 31 Min. size 12″. Daily limit 6. Up to 2 adults may be retained. Release Chinook. STURGEON Sat. before Memorial DayApr. 15 Catch-and-release. Fishing for sturgeon allowed 24hrs/day. |
| from high bridge on Weyerhaeuser 1000 line approx. 400 yards downstream of
Roger Creek (south of Pe Ell) upstream including all forks (315) |
TROUT Sat. before Memorial DayApr. 15 Statewide min. size/daily limit, except release cutthroat trout and
wild rainbow trout. OTHER GAME FISH Sat. before Memorial DayApr. 15 Statewide min. size/daily limit. |
