Sol Duc spring Chinook fishing starts soon

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Fishery managers with the Washington Department of Fish and Washington have announced a May 1 opener for spring Chinook fishing on the Sol Duc and Quillayute rivers.

“We recognize that anglers have been anticipating fishing for spring Chinook in the coastal region and we are looking forward to getting folks back out on the water,” said James Losee, fish program manager for the department’s coastal region.

The Quillayute and Sol Duc rivers will open for the following dates and locations:

May 1 through Aug. 31: Quillayute River (Olympic National Park boundary upstream to confluence of Sol Duc and Bogachiel rivers) and Sol Duc River (mouth to concrete pump station at hatchery)

As described in the sport fishing rules pamphlet, the daily limit is four salmon, only two of which may be adults. Anglers must release wild adult Chinook, wild adult coho, and all sockeye. Only one single point barbless hook is allowed. 

Gamefish on the Sol Duc and Quillayute rivers will also open on May 1 with rules as described in the sport fishing rules pamphlet. Fishing from a boat is allowed but internal combustion motors are prohibited. 

Bait is allowed on the Quillayute and allowed on the Sol Duc through July 15.

As always, state officials said anglers should review the rules for the waters they plan to fish in the Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet at wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations, as well as any emergency rule changes, available at fortress.wa.gov/dfw/erules/efishrules/.

For more information and detailed tips on salmon fishing, visit the Department of Fish and Wildlife's salmon fishing webpage at wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/basics/salmon.