WSR 25-24-101
EMERGENCY RULES
DEPARTMENT OF
FISH AND WILDLIFE
[Order 25-299—Filed December 3, 2025, 8:33 a.m., effective December 3, 2025]
Effective Date of Rule: December 3, 2025.
Purpose: The purpose of this emergency rule is to implement single point barbless hook restrictions during the month of December in tributaries and streams of the central coast, including Grays Harbor tributaries.
Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 220-312-02000C; and 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 set single point barbless hook restrictions for the month of December in many central coast and Grays Harbor tributary streams. This rule is necessary to provide additional protection for wild steelhead stocks that are expected to return below escapement targets by reducing impacts to wild steelhead. This rule also maintains previously announced trout release requirements, changes to game fish seasons, gear restrictions, and reduced steelhead daily limits in WSR 25-24-055. There is insufficient time to adopt permanent rules for these early closures.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 1.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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: December 2, 2025.
Amy H. Windrope
for Kelly Susewind
Director
NEW SECTION
WAC 220-312-02000CFreshwater exceptions to statewide rules—Coast.
Effective December 3, 2025, until further notice, the following provisions of WAC 220-312-020 regarding trout release requirements, game fish seasons, gear restrictions, and steelhead daily limits, for tributaries and streams of the central coast, including Grays Harbor 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) Chehalis River (Grays Harbor County):
(a) From the mouth (Highway 101 Bridge in Aberdeen) to Skookumchuck River including all channels, sloughs, and interconnected waterways:
(i) December 3 through December 31:
(A) All species: Single point barbless hooks required.
(B) Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
(ii) January 1 through February 15:
(A) All species: Selective gear rules.
(B) Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
(iii) February 16, until further notice:
All species: Closed.
(b) From Skookumchuck River to Crim Creek:
(i) December 3 through December 31:
(A) All species: Single point barbless hooks required.
(B) Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
(ii) January 1, until further notice:
All species: Closed.
(c) From Crim Creek upstream:
December 3, until further notice:
All species: Closed.
(2) Chehalis River, South Fork (Lewis County), from the mouth to County Highway Bridge near Boistfort School:
December 3, until further notice:
All species: Closed.
(3) Clearwater River (Jefferson County), from the mouth to Snahapish River:
(a) December 3 through December 31:
(i) All species: Selective gear rules, except bait is allowed.
(ii) Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
(b) January 1 through February 28:
(i) All species: Selective gear rules.
(ii) Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
(c) March 1, until further notice:
All species: Selective gear rules. Catch-and-release.
(4) Cloquallum Creek (Grays Harbor/Mason County), from the mouth to the outlet at Stump Lake:
December 3 through February 28:
All species: Closed.
(5) Copalis River (Grays Harbor County):
(a) December 3 through December 31:
(i) All species: Single point barbless hooks required.
(ii) Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
(b) January 1 through February 28:
(i) All species: Selective gear rules.
(ii) Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
(6) Elk Creek (Lewis/Pacific County):
December 3, until further notice:
All species: Closed.
(7) Elk River (Grays Harbor County):
(a) December 3 through December 31:
(i) All species: Selective gear rules.
(ii) Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
(b) January 1 through February 28:
All species: Closed.
(8) Hoquiam River including West Fork (Grays Harbor County):
(a) December 3 through December 31:
(i) All species: Selective gear rules.
(ii) Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
(b) January 1 through February 28:
All species: Closed.
(9) Hoquiam River, East Fork (Grays Harbor County):
(a) December 3 through December 31:
(i) All species: Selective gear rules.
(ii) Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
(b) January 1 through February 28:
All species: Closed.
(10) Humptulips River (Grays Harbor County):
(a) From mouth (Jessie Slough) to Highway 101 Bridge:
(i) December 3 through December 31:
(A) All species: Single point barbless hooks required.
(B) Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
(ii) January 1 through February 1:
(A) All species: Selective gear rules.
(B) Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
(iii) February 2, until further notice:
All species: Closed.
(b) From Highway 101 Bridge to confluence of East and West Forks:
(i) December 3 through December 31:
(A) All species: Single point barbless hooks required.
(B) Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
(ii) January 1, until further notice:
All species: Closed.
(11) Humptulips River, West Fork (Grays Harbor County), from mouth to Donkey Creek:
December 3, until further notice:
All species: Closed.
(12) Joe Creek (Grays Harbor County), from the mouth to Ocean Beach Rd. Bridge:
December 3 through December 31:
(a) All species: Single point barbless hooks required.
(b) Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
(13) Johns River (Grays Harbor County), from the mouth (Hwy. 105 Bridge) to Ballon Creek:
(a) December 3 through December 31:
(i) All species: Single point barbless hooks required.
(ii) Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
(b) January 1 through February 28:
All species: Closed.
(14) Moclips River (Grays Harbor County), from the mouth to Quinault Indian Reservation boundary:
(a) December 3 through December 31:
(i) All species: Single point barbless hooks required.
(ii) Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
(b) January 1 through February 28:
(i) All species: Selective gear rules.
(ii) Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
(15) Newaukum River, including South Fork (Lewis County):
(a) From mouth to Leonard Road near Onalaska:
(i) December 3 through December 31:
(A) All species: Single point barbless hooks required.
(B) Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
(ii) January 1, until further notice:
All species: Closed.
(b) From Leaonard Road near Onalaska to Highway 508 Bridge near Kearny Creek:
December 3, until further notice:
All species: Closed.
(16) Newaukum River, Middle Fork (Lewis County), from mouth to Taucher Rd. Bridge:
December 3, until further notice:
All species: Closed.
(17) Newaukum River, North (Lewis County), from mouth to 400 feet below Chehalis city water intake:
December 3, until further notice:
All species: Closed.
(18) Quinault River (Grays Harbor/Jefferson County), from the mouth at upper end of Quinault Lake upstream to Olympic National Park boundary:
(a) December 3 through 31:
Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
(b) January 1, until further notice:
(i) All species: Bait prohibited.
(ii) Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
(19) Salmon River (Jefferson County), outside Olympic National Park and Quinault Indian Reservation:
(a) December 3 through December 31:
(i) Steelhead: It is permissible to retain steelhead with a dorsal fin height of less than 2 1/8 inches or with an adipose or ventral fin clip. Minimum size 20 inches. Daily limit two.
(ii) Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
(b) January 1 through February 28:
(i) All species: Bait prohibited.
(ii) Steelhead: It is permissible to retain steelhead with a dorsal fin height of less than 2 1/8 inches or with an adipose or ventral fin clip. Minimum size 20 inches. Daily limit two.
(iii) Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
(20) Satsop River and East Fork (Grays Harbor County):
(a) From mouth to the bridge at Schafer State Park:
(i) December 3 through December 31:
(A) All species: Single point barbless hooks required.
(B) Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
(ii) January 1 through February 15:
(A) All species: Selective Gear Rules.
(B) Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
(iii) February 16, until further notice:
All species: Closed.
(b) From 400 feet downstream of Bingham Creek Hatchery barrier dam upstream to the dam:
(i) December 3 through December 31:
(A) All species: Single point barbless hooks required.
(B) Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
(ii) January 1 through February 15:
(A) All species: Selective gear rules.
(B) Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
(iii) February 16, until further notice:
All species: Closed.
(21) Satsop River, Middle Fork (Grays Harbor County):
December 3 through February 28:
All species: Closed.
(22) Satsop River, West Fork (Grays Harbor County):
December 3 through February 28:
All species: Closed.
(23) Skookumchuck River (Lewis/Thurston County): From mouth to 100' below outlet of TransAlta WDFW steelhead rearing pond located at the base of Skookumchuck Dam:
(a) December 3 through December 31:
(i) All species: Single point barbless hooks required.
(ii) Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
(b) January 1 through February 15:
(i) All species: Selective gear rules.
(ii) Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
(c) February 16, until further notice:
All species: Closed.
(24) Stevens Creek (Grays Harbor County):
(a) From the mouth to the cable crossing downstream of WDFW hatchery outlet:
(i) December 3 through February 1:
(A) All species: Selective gear rules.
(B) Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
(ii) February 2 through February 28:
All species: Closed.
(b) From WDFW hatchery outlet to Highway 101 Bridge:
December 3 through February 28:
All species: Closed.
(25) Van Winkle Creek (Grays Harbor County), from mouth to 400 feet below outlet of Lake Aberdeen Hatchery:
(a) December 3 through December 31:
(i) All species: Single point barbless hooks required.
(ii) Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
(b) January 1 through February 28:
All species: Closed.
(26) Wishkah River (Grays Harbor County), from the mouth to 200 feet below the weir at the Wishkah Rearing Ponds:
(a) December 3 through December 31:
(i) All species: Single point barbless hooks required.
(ii) Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
(b) January 1 through February 28:
All species: Closed
(27) Wynoochee River (Grays Harbor County):
(a) From mouth to the 7400 Line Bridge:
(i) December 3 through December 31:
(A) All species: Single point barbless hooks required.
(B) Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
(ii) January 1 through February 15:
(A) All species: Selective gear rules.
(B) Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
(iii) February 16, until further notice:
All species: Closed.
(b) From the 7400 Line Bridge to 400 feet downstream of Wynoochee Dam:
December 3, until further notice:
All species: Closed.
(c) Upstream of Wynoochee Dam to Wynoochee Falls:
December 3, until further notice:
All species: Closed.
Reviser's note: The spelling error in the above section occurred in the copy filed by the agency and appears in the Register pursuant to the requirements of RCW 34.08.040.
REPEALER
The following section of Washington Administrative Code is repealed, effective December 3, 2025:
WAC 220-312-02000A
Freshwater exceptions to statewide rules—Coast. (25-291)