RE: Searuns and Methow closure

[Tim Harris]

My big question is will the Methow open for steelhead this year?  It seems that the returns have not been too great so far on many WA rivers and I’m wondering if this will impact the Methow opening.     Tim   From: owner-waflyfishers@waflyfishers.com [mailto:owner-waflyfishers@waflyfishers.com] On Behalf Of Dan Hall Sent: Sunday, August 07, 2005 10:10 AM To: waflyfishers@waflyfishers.com Subject: Searuns and Methow closure     There are two things of interest from today’s Times: an area of the Methow which is open is more accurately reported albeit after the fact; post mortem as it were; and a coastal cutthroat trout symposium in September is announced.   Dan   N.E. Washington rivers closed to fishing An unusually high number of anglers in northeastern Washington are fishing where they shouldn't be. State Fish and Wildlife is reminding anglers that the Wenatchee and Entiat rivers and portions of Methow River are closed. On the Methow alone, enforcement officers contacted 27 anglers recently and informed them they can't fish there. Of the three rivers, only a stretch of the Methow from Gold Creek to Weeman Bridge is ever open to fishing for game fish other than whitefish, from June 1 to Sept. 30. Anglers' confusion might stem from a change in the 2005-06 Fishing in Washington rules pamphlet. In past editions, "closed waters" was written in the "special rules" section for the three rivers. This year, the standing closure wasn't specifically detailed in those waters, possibly leading anglers to assume the statewide season of June 1 to Oct. 31 is in effect.   The Coastal Cutthroat Trout Symposium is Sept. 29-Oct. 1 at Fort Worden State Park near Port Townsend. Objectives: Update information and activities since the 1995 symposium; enhance knowledge of life history and ecology; provide current assessment of the status of populations; and develop a coastwide conservation plan. Details: 541-753-0442 or www.orafs.org/cutthroat.html.