Icicle River opens to coho salmon retention Sept. 30

LEAVENWORTH — Anglers may keep coho salmon caught in two stretches of the Icicle River starting Wednesday, Sept. 30, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife announced.

The fishery runs through Nov. 30. The state said expected coho returns to the Icicle are large enough to allow a sport harvest.

Retention is allowed in two sections:

• From the closure signs 800 feet upstream of the river's mouth to 500 feet downstream of the Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery barrier dam.
• From the shoreline markers where Cyo Road meets the river at Sleeping Lady Resort upstream to the Icicle Peshastin Irrigation footbridge, about 750 feet above the Snow Lakes trailhead parking area.

The daily limit is two coho, with a 12-inch minimum size. All other salmon must be released. Bait, including scents and flavors, is prohibited, and a night closure is in effect. Barbed hooks are allowed, but the two-pole endorsement cannot be used in this fishery.

Motorized boats are not allowed on the Icicle River under a Chelan County ordinance.

WDFW said it will monitor the fishery closely and may close it early if anglers are catching and releasing too many summer steelhead, which are protected under the Endangered Species Act.

Anglers need a current Washington fishing license. Questions can go to WDFW's North Central Region office in Ephrata at 509-754-4624 or TeamEphrata@dfw.wa.gov. Rule updates are posted at wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations/hotlines.