EMERGENCY RULES
FISH AND WILDLIFE
Effective Date of Rule: May 1, 2013.
Purpose: Amend recreational fishing rules.
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 232-28-619.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 77.12.045, 77.12.047, and 77.04.020.
Under RCW 34.05.350 the agency for good cause finds that immediate adoption, amendment, or repeal of a rule is necessary for the preservation of the public health, safety, or general welfare, and that observing the time requirements of notice and opportunity to comment upon adoption of a permanent rule would be contrary to the public interest.
Reasons for this Finding: The department is in the process of filing permanent rules that were adopted by the Washington fish and wildlife commission for sportfishing, and permanent rules that will be adopted by the department for recreational salmon fishing. The salmon rules were agreed to with resource comanagers at the North of Falcon proceedings. All of these rules are interim until permanent rules take effect.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Date Adopted: April 26, 2013.
Philip Anderson
Director
1. Puget Sound Region Freshwater: Beaver ponds located within a stream, or adjoining streams that are currently listed as open to trout and other gamefish, follow the same rules and regulations as the stream unless otherwise regulated by special rules.
2. It is permissible to retain hatchery (adipose-clipped)
trout less than 14 inches in length, as part of the daily
limit, in the following waters:
| Water Body | County | Section (if applicable) |
| Bear Creek | Clallam | |
| Beaver Creek | Clallam | From mouth to Beaver Falls. |
| Beaver Creek | Thurston | |
| Big River | Clallam | Outside Olympic National Park (ONP). |
| Black River | Grays Harbor/Thurston | From mouth to bridge on 128th Ave. SW. |
| Blooms Ditch | Thurston | From mouth to I-5. |
| Bogachiel River | Clallam | |
| Calawah River | Clallam | From mouth to forks. |
| Calawah River, North Fork | Clallam | |
| Calawah River, South Fork | Clallam | From mouth to ONP boundary. |
| Cedar Creek | Clallam | Outside ONP. |
| Cedar Creek | Jefferson | Outside ONP. |
| Chehalis River | Grays Harbor | Including all channels, sloughs, and interconnected waterways, from mouth (Highway 101 Bridge in Aberdeen) to high bridge on Weyerhaeuser 1000 line. |
| Chehalis River,
South Fork Highway |
Lewis | From mouth to County Bridge near Boistfort School. |
| Clearwater River | Jefferson | |
| Cloquallum Creek | Grays Harbor | From the mouth to outlet at Stump Lake. |
| Coal Creek | Clallam | |
| Connor Creek | Grays Harbor | |
| Cook Creek | Grays Harbor | From the Quinault Indian Reservation boundary upstream. |
| Copalis River | Grays Harbor | |
| Crooked Creek | Clallam | Including tributaries outside ONP. |
| Dickey River | Clallam | Including both forks. |
| Elk Creek | Clallam | Outside ONP. |
| Elk River | Grays Harbor | |
| Goodman Creek | Jefferson | Outside ONP. |
| Hoh River, South Fork | Jefferson | Outside ONP. |
| Hoquiam River, including West Fork | Grays Harbor | |
| Hoquiam River, East Fork | Grays Harbor | |
| Humptulips River | Grays Harbor | |
| Humptulips River, East Fork | Grays Harbor | From the mouth to the concrete bridge on Forest Service Road 220. |
| Humptulips River, West Fork | Grays Harbor | From mouth to Donkey Creek. |
| Joe Creek | Grays Harbor | From mouth upstream. |
| Johns River | Grays Harbor | |
| Kalaloch Creek | Jefferson | Outside ONP. |
| Matheny Creek | Jefferson | Outside ONP. |
| Moclips River | Grays Harbor | From mouth to the Quinault. Indian Reservation boundary. |
| Mosquito Creek | Jefferson | Outside ONP upstream to the Goodman 3000 Mainline Bridge. |
| Newaukum River | Lewis | From the mouth to
Highway 508 Bridge near Kearny Creek. |
| Newaukum River, Middle Fork | Lewis | From the mouth to Tauscher Road Bridge. |
| Newaukum River, North Fork | Lewis | From the mouth to 400 feet below the Chehalis city water intake. |
| Palmquist Creek | Clallam | Outside ONP. |
| Petroleum Creek | Clallam | From the ONP boundary upstream. |
| Pilchuck Creek | Clallam | |
| Quillayute River | Clallam | Outside ONP. |
| Quinault River | Grays Harbor | From the mouth at the upper end of Quinault Lake upstream to the ONP boundary. |
| Quinn Creek | Clallam | Outside ONP. |
| Salmon Creek | Thurston | |
| Salmon River | Jefferson | Outside ONP and the Quinault Indian Reservation. |
| Satsop River | Grays Harbor | From mouth to Bingham Creek Hatchery barrier dam. |
| Sol Duc River | Clallam | From the mouth to the concrete pump station at the Sol Duc Hatchery, and from the concrete pump station at Sol Duc Hatchery to Highway 101 Bridge upstream of Klahowya Camp Ground. |
| Middle Fork Satsop River | Grays Harbor | From mouth to Cougar Smith Road. |
| West Fork Satsop River | Grays Harbor | From mouth to Cougar Smith Road. |
| Sitkum River | Clallam | |
| Siwash Creek | Clallam | Outside ONP. |
| Snahapish River | Jefferson | |
| Solberg Creek | Clallam | |
| Solleks River | Jefferson | |
| Sooes River | Clallam | Outside of Makah Indian Reservation. |
| South Creek | Clallam | outside ONP |
| Stevens Creek | Grays | From the mouth to Highway 101 Bridge. |
| Thunder Creek | Clallam | |
| Trout Creek | Clallam | |
| Van Winkle Creek | Grays Harbor | From the mouth to 400 feet below the outlet of Lake Aberdeen Hatchery. |
| Wishkah River | Grays Harbor | From mouth to 200 feet below the weir at the Wishkah Rearing Ponds. |
| Wynoochee River | Grays Harbor | From mouth to 400 feet below Wynoochee Dam, including confluence of the reservoir upstream to Wynoochee Falls. |
| Water Body | County | Section (if applicable) |
| Big Beaver Creek | Whatcom | From one-quarter mile upstream of the closed water markers on Ross Lake upstream, including tributary streams and beaver ponds. |
| Cascade River | Skagit | From the Rockport-Cascade Road Bridge upstream. |
| Cedar River | Pacific | |
| Tolt River | King | From mouth to USGS trolley cable near confluence of North and South forks. |
| Clearwater River | Pierce | |
| Monte Cristo Lake | Snohomish | |
| Naselle River | Pacific/ Wahkiakum |
Upstream from the mouth of the North Fork. |
| Naselle River, South Fork | Pacific | From the mouth to Bean Creek. |
| Nemah River, Middle Fork | Pacific | From the Department of Natural Resources bridge on the Middle Nemah A-Line Road upstream. |
| Nemah River, South Fork | Pacific | From the confluence
with Middle Fork Nemah
River upstream to the
second. Highway 101 Bridge crossing |
| North River | Grays Harbor/Pacific | From Fall River to Raimie. |
| Creek Ohop Creek | Pierce | |
| Palix River | Pacific | From the confluence with the Middle Fork upstream and all forks, including South Fork Palix and Cannon Rivers. |
| Salmon Creek | Pacific | |
| Sauk River | Skagit/Snohomish | From Darrington Bridge upstream. |
| Skykomish River, South Fork | King/Snohomish | From Sunset Falls to the source, including all tributaries and their tributaries. |
| Smith Creek (near North River) | Pacific | From Highway 101 Bridge upstream. |
| Stillaguamish River, South Fork | Snohomish | From Mountain Loop Highway Bridge above Granite Falls upstream to the source. |
| Tye River | King | From Foss River to Alpine Falls. |
| White (Stuck) River | Pierce | From the Weyerhaeuser 6000 Road Bridge (Bridge Camp) upstream to its source. |
| Willapa River | Pacific | From Fork Creek upstream. |
| Willapa River, South Fork | Pacific | From the mouth to bridge on Pehl Road. |
| Water Body | County | Section (if applicable) |
| Black Creek | Snohomish | From Bear Creek confluence upstream. |
| Boulder River | Snohomish | From Boulder Falls upstream. |
| Boxley Creek | King | Upstream from the falls located at approximately river mile 0.9. |
| Canyon Creek | Whatcom | |
| Cavanaugh Creek | Whatcom | Including all tributaries, upstream from where Cavanaugh Creek first flows into Whatcom County. |
| Chaplain Creek | Snohomish | Above the falls to the dam at Chapman Lake, including tributaries and beaver ponds. |
| Cherry Creek | Whatcom | From above Cherry Creek Falls including all tributaries and beaver ponds. |
| Coal Creek | King | From Highway I-90 upstream. |
| Cumberland Creek | Whatcom | Upstream from the USFS 17 road bridge, including all tributaries. |
| Dungeness River | Clallam | From Gold Creek upstream. |
| Green (Duwamish) River | King | From Friday Creek upstream, including all tributaries and their tributaries. |
| Howard Creek | Whatcom | Upstream from where Howard Creek flows into Section 13 of township 36N, range 6E, and including all tributaries. |
| Jefferson Creek | Mason | |
| Kennedy Creek | Mason | From the falls upstream, including all tributaries. |
| Marsh Creek | Snohomish | Above the falls and upstream, including tributaries and beaver ponds. |
| Nooksack River, North Fork | Whatcom | Waters above Nooksack Falls, including all tributaries and their tributaries. |
| Nooksack River, Middle Fork | Whatcom | Waters above the diversion dam, including all tributaries and their tributaries. |
| Olney Creek | Snohomish | Waters upstream of Olney Falls, including tributaries and beaver ponds. |
| O'Toole (Marietta) Creek | Whatcom | Upstream from Marietta Falls. |
| Plumbago Creek | Whatcom | Upstream from the Sierra Pacific 140 road bridge, including all tributaries. |
| Pressentin Creek | Whatcom | Upstream from the waterfall located 0.3 miles from the Skagit River, including all tributaries. |
| Quilcene River | Jefferson | From the upper boundary of Falls View Campground upstream. |
| Roaring Creek | Whatcom | Upstream from its confluence with Deer Creek, including all tributaries. |
| Skookum Creek | Whatcom | From the mouth of Arlecho Creek upstream, including Arlecho Creek and all other tributaries. |
| Skykomish River, North Fork | Snohomish | From Deer Falls upstream, including all tributaries and their tributaries. |
| Snoqualmie River | King | From Snoqualmie Falls upstream, including the North and South Forks and their tributaries (except Tate, Sunday and Phillapa creeks). |
| South Prairie Creek | Pierce | From the City of Buckley's diversion dam upstream. |
| Stillaguamish River, North Fork | Snohomish | Upstream of the falls, including all tributaries and their tributaries. |
| Tokul Creek | King | From Tokul Road SE upstream, including all tributaries and beaver ponds. |
| Voight Creek | Pierce | From the falls under the powerline upstream. |
| Woods Creek | Snohomish | |
| Youngs Creek | Snohomish | From Potson Rd upstream, including tributaries. |
6. Open year round: Long Lake (Thurston County); Middle Nemah Pond (Pacific County); Mooses Pond (Pacific County); Ohop Lake (Pierce County).
7. Baker Lake (Whatcom County):
Salmon open July 10 until further notice: Daily limit 2 sockeye only; each angler aboard a vessel may deploy salmon angling gear until the daily salmon limit for all licensed and juvenile anglers aboard has been achieved.
8. California Creek (Whatcom County):
The mouth is defined as Drayton Harbor Road Bridge.
9. Canyon Creek (Snohomish County), from mouth to the forks:
Selective gear rules apply.
10. Cascade Creek (San Juan County):
Open from the mouth to Cascade Lake from the first Saturday in June until further notice. Selective gear rules apply. Daily limit 10 eastern brook trout only; release all other fish.
11. Channel Creek (Whatcom County):
Open the first Saturday in June until further notice.
12. Chaplain Lake (Snohomish County): Closed.
13. Clover Creek (Pierce County) upstream of Steilacoom Lake, including all tributaries:
Selective gear rules apply. Trout minimum length 14 inches.
14. Deschutes River (Thurston County):
(a) From old U.S. Highway 99 Bridge near Tumwater to Henderson Boulevard Bridge near Pioneer Park: Open for trout year round, catch and release only.
(b) From Henderson Boulevard Bridge upstream, it is permissible to fish from a floating device equipped with an internal combustion motor.
15. Ebey Lake (Little Lake, Snohomish County):
Open under statewide general rules.
16. Fork Creek (Pacific County):
From Forks Creek Hatchery Rack upstream 500 feet to fishing boundary sign, open to anglers with disabilities who permanently use a wheelchair and possess a designated harvester companion card.
17. Hoh River (Jefferson County):
(a) From Olympic National Park boundary upstream to DNR Oxbow Campground Boat Launch: From the first Saturday in June until further notice, trout minimum length 14 inches, except it is permissible to retain hatchery (adipose clipped) trout less than 14 inches in length, as part of the limit.
(b) From DNR Oxbow Campground Boat Launch to Willoughby Creek: Selective gear rules apply May 16 until further notice.
18. Hutchinson Creek (Whatcom County): Closed.
19. Minter Creek (Pierce/Kitsap counties), from the mouth to the hatchery rack:
Open for trout only the first Saturday in June until further notice. Selective gear rules apply. Minimum length 14 inches.
20. Nisqually River (Pierce County):
(a) From the mouth to Military Tank Crossing Bridge:
(i) All species: Fishing from any floating device prohibited July 28 through July 30.
(ii) Salmon: Daily limit 6; no more than 2 adults may be retained plus 2 additional adult pink salmon.
(b) From Military Tank Crossing Bridge to 400 feet below LaGrande Powerhouse, it is permissible to fish from a floating device equipped with an internal combustion motor.
(c) From Alder Reservoir upstream including all tributaries, open the Saturday before Memorial Day until further notice. Selective gear rules apply.
21. Nooksack River, South Fork (Skagit/Whatcom counties):
Upstream from and including Wanlick Creek, and including all tributaries: open the Saturday before Memorial Day until further notice; fly fishing only; catch and release only.
22. Pilchuck Creek (Snohomish County):
(a) From the mouth to Highway 9 Bridge, it is permissible to fish from a floating device equipped with an internal combustion motor.
(b) From Pilchuck Falls upstream, including all tributaries and their tributaries, and all tributaries to Lake Cavanaugh, open the Saturday before Memorial Day until further notice.
23. Pratt River (King County):
Open the Saturday before Memorial Day until further notice. It is permissible to fish from a floating device equipped with an internal combustion motor.
24. Puyallup River (Pierce County), from the mouth (11th St. Bridge) to the mouth of the White River: Closed.
25. Ross Lake (Whatcom County):
(a) Tributaries to the tributaries, except Big Beaver Creek and Ruby Creek, are open July 1 until further notice, from one mile above their mouths to the headwaters.
(b) Tributaries to Ruby Creek open July 1 until further notice.
26. Shady Lake (King County):
Open the fourth Saturday in April until further notice.
27. Skagit River (Skagit/Whatcom counties):
(a) From mouth to Hwy 536 at Mt. Vernon:
(i) Open through May 31 for trout only: Selective gear rules apply; hooks must measure 1/2" or less from point to shank; release all fish other than trout.
(ii) July 1 through July 31, hooks must measure 1/2" or less from point to shank.
(b) From Hwy 536 at Mt. Vernon to mouth of Gilligan Creek: July 1 through July 31, hooks must measure 1/2" or less from point to shank. Salmon closed June 16 through July 15.
(c) From mouth of Gilligan Creek to the Dalles Bridge at Concrete: June 1 until further notice, hooks must measure 1/2" or less from point to shank.
(d) From the Dalles Bridge at Concrete to Hwy 530 bridge at Rockport: June 1 until further notice, hooks must measure 1/2" or less from point to shank.
(e) From Hwy 530 bridge at Rockport to Cascade River Road: July 16 until further notice, hooks must measure 1/2" or less from point to shank.
28. Skokomish River (Mason County), from the mouth to Bonneville power lines (upstream of Hwy 101 at approximately 47°18.88'N, 123°11.26'W): Closed.
29. Skookumchuck River (Thurston County):
(a) From the mouth to 100 feet below the outlet of the PP&L/WDFW steelhead rearing pond located at the base of the Skookumchuck Dam: From the first Saturday in June until further notice, trout minimum length 14 inches, except it is permissible to retain hatchery (adipose-clipped) trout less than 14 inches in length, as part of the daily limit.
(b) From Skookumchuck Reservoir upstream, it is permissible to fish from a floating device equipped with an internal combustion motor.
30. Skykomish River (Snohomish County), from the mouth to Wallace River:
Salmon: Open June 1 through July 31; minimum length 12 inches; daily limit 4 hatchery Chinook only, of which no more than 2 may be adult Chinook.
31. Tahuya River (Mason County):
The mouth is defined as North Shore Road Bridge.
32. Taylor River (King County):
Open the Saturday before Memorial Day until further notice. It is permissible to fish from a floating device equipped with an internal combustion motor.
33. Tolt River (King County):
It is permissible to fish from a floating device equipped with an internal combustion motor. Open the Saturday before Memorial Day until further notice, from the falls upstream on the North Fork including all tributaries, and from the dam upstream on the South Fork.
34. Tolt River, North Fork (King County), from falls upstream, and all tributaries:
Open the Saturday before Memorial Day until further notice. It is permissible to fish from a floating device equipped with an internal combustion motor.
35. Tolt River, South Fork (King County), from dam upstream:
Open the Saturday before Memorial Day until further notice. It is permissible to fish from a floating device equipped with an internal combustion motor.
36. Umbrella Creek (Clallam County), outside Olympic National Park, including tributaries and Elk Lake:
It is permissible to retain hatchery (adipose-clipped) trout less than 14 inches in length, as part of the daily limit. Release all Kokanee.
37. Vance Creek/Elma Ponds (Grays Harbor County):
Pond One (Bowers Lake) is open only to juvenile anglers, seniors, and anglers with a disability who possess a designated harvester companion card.
38. Wallace River (Snohomish County):
(a) From the mouth to 363rd Ave SE/Reece Rd, night closure and anti-snagging rule in effect June 1 until further notice.
(b) From Wallace Falls upstream, including all tributaries and their tributaries, open the Saturday before Memorial Day until further notice.
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Reviser's note: The typographical errors in the above section occurred in the copy filed by the agency and appear in the Register pursuant to the requirements of RCW 34.08.040.