Conditions described here were accurate only as of the date shown and may have changed. This is not a substitute for current official information from the agency with jurisdiction. See the full notice. Full notice.
Clearwater River on the Olympic Coast Closes to All Fishing
Low water and weak coho catches in the Queets basin. The closure runs until further notice.
The Clearwater River, the main tributary of the Queets on Washington's Olympic coast, is closed to all fishing from its mouth upstream starting October 16, until further notice, under an emergency rule from the Department of Fish and Wildlife.
In-season monitoring in the Queets basin shows coho harvest well below projections, suggesting this year's return may come in under the preseason forecast. A dry summer left the rivers low, so Chinook and coho have been holding in the lower river instead of moving up to spawn. Recent rain has moved some fish, but managers remain concerned about how many will reach the spawning grounds.
The department says it may reopen the river if conditions improve. It follows similar low-water measures on the coast this month, including the reduced limits and bait ban on the Quillayute. WDFW's Coastal Region office is at 360-249-4628.
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