Whil I don't have current numbers, but only a couple of years ago the estimate was 1000 to as many as 2000 fish and, hard as it may be to believe, conditions in Deer Creek are slo-o-o-wly improving (I know you wouldn't think so to see it dirty up after the slightest bit of precipitation). The biggest problem for the Deer creek fish is being targeted when they stack up in the North Fork immediately below the mouth of the creek. In the low and warm water that can occur in August and September this is a cause for concern and led to an emergency closure of that area a couple of years ago until fall rains raised Deer Creek enough to call them up. I would presume that the WDFW would do this again under the same conditions, but don't see this as any reason not to fish for them when water conditions are more favorable. The Deer Creek run, in spite of the vicissitudes that it is forced to face, is surprisingly healthy. In fact, I think that the management of this run has been a good example of the effectiveness of catch-and-release in providing a fishing opportunity with minimal negative impact.
