All spring chinook must be released...

WDFW FISHING RULE CHANGE
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091
http://wdfw.wa.gov

May 8, 2009

All spring chinook must be released
on the Kalama River

Action: Kalama River anglers must release all spring chinook beginning Monday, May 11.

Species affected: Chinook salmon

Effective dates by location: May 11 through July 31.

Location: From boundary markers at the mouth to the upper salmon hatchery.

Reason for action: Pre-season, only 900 adult spring chinook were forecasted to return to the Kalama River this year. The hatchery adult sport daily limit was previously reduced to one fish under emergency regulation.

Through May 6, just two hatchery adult spring chinook had returned to the salmon hatchery. The hatchery brood stock goal is 500 fish. Based upon recent year return timing, the goal may not be met even with a reduced daily limit.

Other information: Creel sampling surveys have shown light catches and no evidence of large numbers of fish holding in the river. Hatchery returns will continue to be closely monitored.

The lower Kalama remains open to the retention of hatchery steelhead.

Information contact: (360) 696-6211. For latest information press *1010.