2025/2026 OP SteelHead Rules

[srickaby99]

So the new rules came out. The press release indicates that most things are the same with just a few closure changes. I'm pretty new to this game with only last year to go on... In the phone app I see that the Sol Duc above the hatchery to the 101 bridge above the Klahoya campground is closed from 12/1 - 4/30, but in the press release it seems to state that is closed from April 1 - 30.

Any ideas what's going on here? It was open last year. The information seems confusing (I'm getting used to this).

In other news I see the Clearwater is open and the ONP also lists the Queets as open which would be exciting to fish... though I guess the rapidly developing WA cynic in me can assume these two will be closed again by the time I'm able to make it out there... see I'm learning fast ;-)

 

[ThomasM]

The actual emergency rules on the WDFW site show the (new) normal rules, open through March as I wistfully remember awesome April fishing...

North Coast/Olympic Peninsula rivers and tributaries: steelhead and trout rules update

Actions: Updates wild trout release requirements.Updates game fish (including trout and steelhead) season closing dates.Updates game fish (including trout and steelhead) bait restrictions.Updates steelhead daily limits.Effective dates: Dec. 1, 2025–April 30, 2026. Species affected: All species.

wdfw.wa.gov

Sol Duc River (Clallam County):

• From mouth to concrete pump station at Sol Duc Hatchery:
  • Jan. 1–March 31:
    • All species: Bait prohibited.
  • April 1–30:
    • All species: Closed.
• From concrete pump station at Sol Duc Hatchery to Highway 101 Bridge upstream of Klahowya Campground:
  • April 1–30:
    • All species: Closed.

 

[srickaby99]

The actual emergency rules on the WDFW site show the (new) normal rules, open through March as I wistfully remember awesome April fishing...

North Coast/Olympic Peninsula rivers and tributaries: steelhead and trout rules update

Actions: Updates wild trout release requirements.Updates game fish (including trout and steelhead) season closing dates.Updates game fish (including trout and steelhead) bait restrictions.Updates steelhead daily limits.Effective dates: Dec. 1, 2025–April 30, 2026. Species affected: All species.

wdfw.wa.gov

Sol Duc River (Clallam County):

• From mouth to concrete pump station at Sol Duc Hatchery:
  • Jan. 1–March 31:
    • All species: Bait prohibited.
  • April 1–30:
    • All species: Closed.
• From concrete pump station at Sol Duc Hatchery to Highway 101 Bridge upstream of Klahowya Campground:
  • April 1–30:
    • All species: Closed.

 

[srickaby99]

looks like this is wrong then...

 

[srickaby99]

ok I can sleep tonight. I emailed wdfw... here's the reply

Good afternoon and thank you for reaching out to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

For the Sol Duc River, from the concrete pump station at Sol Duc hatchery to Hwy. 101 Bridge upstream of Klahowya campground CRC (406), you are correct that it is still currently open for both trout and other game fish following statewide minimum size/daily limit (except: release cutthroat trout and wild rainbow trout) and that the all-species closure will go into effect via emergency regulation starting April 1st through April 30th.


I notified our regulations team regarding the FishWA app error, and they are working to get that corrected and it should be updated here very soon. Thank you again for bringing that to our attention and let me know if you have any additional questions!

 

[Chris Bellows]

I remember way back in the late 90’s fighting for wild release that the opponents of wild release always brought up April fishing, in that if we cared about wild steelhead why were we fishing that late? I guess we both won