OLYMPIA, Wa. – The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife announced Friday that they will be closing spring Chinook salmon fishing on the Snake River effective May 13, 2023.
The rule is a direct result of delayed fish passage throughout the system based on water temperature and flow. WDFW is closing the season to allow staff to assess catch information and determine the remaining allocation for the fishery.
WDFW’s decision closes all spring Chinook salmon fishing in the Snake River and affects the area below Little Goose Dam from Texas Rapids boat launch (located on the south side of the river upstream of the mouth of Tucannon River) to the fishing restriction boundary below Little Goose Dam. This zone includes both shores and the rock and concrete area between the juvenile bypass return pipe and Little Goose Dam along the south shoreline of the facility (includes the walkway area locally known as “the Wall” in front of the juvenile collection facility). It also applies to the region of the Snake River below Ice Harbor Dam from the South Bound Highway 12 Bridge near Pasco upstream about 7 miles to the fishing restriction boundary below Ice Harbor Dam.

Anyone with questions or wanting further information is asked to contact Jeremy Trump, District 3 Fish Biologist, at 509-382-1005