WSR 25-24-053
EMERGENCY RULES
DEPARTMENT OF
FISH AND WILDLIFE
[Order 25-290—Filed November 26, 2025, 2:20 p.m., effective December 1, 2025]
Effective Date of Rule: December 1, 2025.
Purpose: The purpose of this emergency rule is to change wild trout release requirements, game fish season closing dates, and gear restrictions in Willapa Bay tributary streams.
Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 220-312-020.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.020, 77.12.045, and 77.12.047.
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: This emergency rule is necessary to change wild trout release requirements, game fish season closing dates, and gear restrictions in Willapa Bay tributary streams. These rule changes implement permanent rules adopted by the fish and wildlife commission on November 14, 2025. Permanent rule making has been initiated under WSR 25-17-071.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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: November 26, 2025.
Kelly Susewind
Director
NEW SECTION
WAC 220-312-02000ZFreshwater exceptions to statewide rules—Coast.
Effective December 1, 2025, until further notice. Provisions of WAC 220-312-020, regarding game fish seasons, wild trout retention, and gear restrictions in Willapa Bay tributaries are changed as described in this section. All other provisions of WAC 220-312-020 not addressed in this section, unless otherwise amended by emergency rule, remain in effect:
(1) Bear River (Pacific Co.), from the Hwy. 101 Bridge to Longview Fiber Bridge:
December 1, until further notice:
(a) All species: Selective Gear Rules.
(b) Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
(2) Naselle River (Pacific Co.):
(a) From the Hwy. 101 Bridge to the South Fork to 300 feet below the upstream entrance of the Naselle Hatchery attraction channel:
(i) December 1 through January 31:
(A) All species: Anti-snagging rule. Single point barbless hooks required. Night Closure.
(B) Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
(ii) February 1, until further notice:
(A) All species: Selective gear rules.
(B) Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
(b) From the upstream entrance of the Naselle Hatchery attraction channel to 400 feet downstream of the falls in Sec. 6, T10N, R8W:
(i) December 1 through January 31:
(C) All species: Anti-snagging rule. Single point barbless hooks required. Night Closure.
(D) Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
(ii) February 1, until further notice:
(A) All species: Selective gear rules.
(B) Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
(c) From the falls in Sec. 6, T10N, R8W to the Crown Mainline (Salme) Bridge:
(i) December 1 through January 31:
(A) All species: Anti-snagging rule. Single point barbless hooks required. Night Closure.
(B) Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
(ii) February 1, until further notice:
(i) All species: Selective gear rules.
(ii) Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
(d) From the Crown Mainline (Salme) Bridge to the mouth of the North Fork:
December 1, until further notice:
(i) All species: Selective gear rules.
(ii) Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
(3) Naselle River, South (Pacific County), from mouth to Bean Creek:
December 1, until further notice:
(a) All species: Selective gear rules.
(b) Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
(c) Other game fish: Statewide minimum size/daily limit.
(4) Nemah River, Middle (Pacific County):
(a) From the mouth to the Department of Natural Resources decommissioned bridge on the Middle Nemah A-Line Road:
December 1, until further notice:
(i) All species: Selective gear rules.
(ii) Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
(b) From the Department of Natural Resources decommissioned bridge on the Middle Nemah A-Line Road upstream:
December 1, until further notice:
All species: Closed.
(5) Nemah River, North (Pacific Co.):
(a) From Hwy. 101 Bridge to the fishing boundary sign (approximately 210 feet above the Nemah Hatchery Bridge):
December 1, until further notice:
(i) All species: Selective gear rules.
(ii) Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
(b) From Nemah Hatchery Dam to N-700 Road (46°28.58 N, 123°48.54 W):
December 1, until further notice:
(i) All species: Selective gear rules.
(ii) Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
(c) From N-700 Road (46°28.58N, 123°48.54W) to Cruiser Creek:
December 1, until further notice:
All species: Closed.
(6) Nemah River, South (Pacific Co.), from mouth (Lynn Point 117° true to opposite shore) upstream:
December 1, until further notice:
(a) All species: Selective gear rules.
(b) Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
(7) North River (Grays Harbor/Pacific Co.):
(a) From the Hwy. 105 Bridge to Fall River:
December 1, until further notice:
(i) All species: Selective gear rules.
(ii) Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
(iii) Other game fish: Statewide minimum size/daily limit.
(b) From Fall River to Raimie Creek:
December 1 through February 28:
All species: Closed.
(8) Palix River, including all forks (Pacific Co.):
(a) From Highway 101 Bridge to the mouth of the Middle Fork:
December 1, until further notice:
Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
(b) From the confluence of the Middle Fork upstream (all forks, including South Fork Palix and Canon rivers):
December 16, until further notice:
Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
(9) Salmon Creek (Pacific/Wahkiakum Co.):
December 1, until further notice:
(a) All species: Selective gear rules.
(b) Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
(c) Other game fish: Statewide minimum size/daily limit.
(10) Smith Creek (near North River) (Pacific Co.):
(a) From mouth to Highway 101 Bridge:
December 1, until further notice:
(i) All species: Selective gear rules.
(ii) Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
(iii) Other game fish: Statewide minimum size/daily limit.
(b) From Highway 101 Bridge upstream:
December 1 through February 28:
All species: Closed.
(11) Willapa River (Pacific Co.):
(a) From mouth (City of South Bend boat launch) to WDFW access at mouth of Ward/Wilson Creek:
(i) December 1 through January 31:
(A) All species: Anti-snagging rule. Single-point barbless hooks required. Night closure.
(B) Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
(C) Other game fish: Statewide minimum size/daily limit.
(ii) February 1, until further notice:
(A) All species: Selective gear rules.
(B) Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
(C) Other game fish: Statewide minimum size/daily limit.
(b) From the WDFW access at mouth of Ward/Wilson Creek to Hwy. 6 Bridge near the town of Lebam:
(i) December 1 through January 31:
(A) All species: Anti-snagging rule. Single-point barbless hooks required. Night closure.
(B) Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
(ii) February 1, until further notice:
(A) All species: Selective gear rules.
(B) Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
(12) Willapa River, South Fork (Pacific Co.):
(a) From mouth to 400 feet downstream of falls/fish ladder in Sec. 6, T13N, R8W:
December 1, until further notice:
(i) All species: Selective gear rules.
(ii) Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
(iii) Other game fish: Statewide minimum size/daily limit.
(b) From the falls/fish ladder in Sec. 6, T13N, R8W to Pehl Road Bridge:
December 1, until further notice:
(i) All species: Selective gear rules.
(ii) Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
(iii) Other game fish: Statewide minimum size/daily limit.
(c) From Pehl Road Bridge upstream:
December 1, until further notice:
(i) Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
(ii) Other game fish: Statewide minimum size/daily limit.