As Mike points out above, the Methow, Entiat and Wenatchee were closed
(about five years ago now) under the threat that NMFS would step in and take
over management of these rivers. Upper Columbia River steelhead are listed
as endangered under the ESA and, under the provisions of the ESA, even the
small incidental mortality of a catch-and-release fishery is not allowed, so
there's not much room to maneuver. The trout fishery that has been allowed
for the last couple of summers on the Methow is, in effect, a test fishery
to determine whether a trout fishery can be carried out without significant
harm to downstream migrant steelhead and salmon smolts, and it is being
monitored very closely. When, if ever, will these rivers re-open? That's a
good question, I don't know what the escapement numbers are, or in which
direction they're trending. Anecdotal information would indicate that there
are fair numbers of steelhead returning. A couple of friends of mine spent
a few days fishing for whitefish on the Methow last winter and actually
hooked several steelhead while fishing size 16 midge pupa imitations under
strike indicators. I hope they can re-open the Wenatchee some day, fishing
for steelhead there in September and October was always one of the
highlights of the season for me.
