In Washington, co-managers of coastal winter steelhead fisheries were faced with the difficult task this year of balancing angling opportunity and conservation. We break down the new emergency regulations and what the future may hold.
Field Day Friday: A peek into the former reservoirs of the Elwha River
We’re back with another Science Friday, this one an update on a recent Elwha River Field Day from our Science Director, John McMillan.
Washington Coast Winter Steelhead: Will There Be A Season?
Next week, WDFW hosts the second town hall in a series of meetings for the planning of the coastal winter steelhead season on Washington’s coast.
Field Day Friday: Elwha summer steelhead survey
Fall means another field season of studying steelhead in the Elwha River is over and this is the fourth consecutive year we have counted steelhead in the Elwha by snorkeling various river reaches.
Elwha River: Ten Years Later
Washington’s Elwha River is celebrating an important anniversary today. It’s been ten years since the start of deconstruction of two dams in the Elwha that blocked salmon and steelhead from returning to the majority of habitat in this remarkable watershed.
Planning set to begin for Washington coast winter steelhead season
This week, WDFW kicks off the coastal winter steelhead season planning with the first in a series of virtual town halls.
Field Day Friday: A heat blast for young-of-year steelhead
The Pacific Northwest just experienced one heck of an abnormal heat wave. Temperatures soared up to, and in some places beyond, 117F. These are extremely warm temperatures for late June, and the sharp increase had an effect on emergence timing of juvenile steelhead, which we dive into for Field Day Friday.
Cheaters, Liars, and Whiners: The Washington Coast Wrap-up
Wild Steelheaders United ambassador Lee Geist shares his perspective from a season chasing steelhead on Washington’s coast under new fishing regulations meant to reduce angler encounter rate.
Update: Emergency closure for some winter steelhead rivers and the Quileute Tribe’s perspective
It has been a tough stretch for wild winter steelhead on the West End of Washington’s Olympic Peninsula. Now, several months into the season, some of these runs appear to be even weaker than forecast. Given the alarmingly low returns of coastal wild winter steelhead so far this year, it’s not a surprise WDFW had to take additional action to protect these fish.
Elwha River: An update on our summer steelhead journey
Our Science Director, John McMillan, shares some early findings from our snorkel surveys of the Elwha River’s summer steelhead this past year.