Action: Closes all angling in the Wind River above Shipherd Falls.

Effective date: September 16 through November 30, 2021.

Species affected: All species.

Location: Wind River from 100 feet above Shipherd Falls to Moore Bridge.

Reason for action: A minimum escapement of 500 wild summer steelhead is needed to allow for the opening of a catch-and-release fishery above Shipherd Falls on September 16. Based on the results of a recent snorkel survey in August, the wild summer steelhead return is projected to be far below the minimum objective. Summer steelhead returns have been low throughout the Columbia River basin this year. 

Additional information: This area will be closed to all fishing to protect the low numbers of summer steelhead arriving this year to spawn. WDFW is planning to perform an additional snorkel survey in early September and will consider those results to reevaluate the need for this closure. However, we currently anticipate that this fishery will remain closed in 2021.

Information contact: Matt Gardner, District Fish Biologist, (360) 906-6746