06/03/2026
To protect the wild chinook salmon, the Skykomish River will be closed to all salmon, steelhead and game fish until Nov. 1. Please check regs, especially emergency closures, on the WDFW.WA.gov, before going fishing.
Conservation and recovery of wild Chinook salmon returning to the Snohomish River and its tributaries — including the Skykomish and Snoqualmie — was an important issue WDFW and tribal co-managers evaluated and discussed with anglers, guides, and advisors during the 2026 North of Falcon process.
In 2026, fewer than 3,500 wild Chinook are forecasted to return to the Snohomish Basin. Refer to our latest WDFW blog post to learn more: wdfw.medium.com/snohomish-basin-salmon-steelhead-fisheries-limited-to-protect-wild-chinook-2026-e0d1400a9f38
Given the need to protect and conserve these endangered Chinook, the mainstem Skykomish, Snoqualmie below Snoqualmie Falls, and several other rivers in this watershed will be closed to fishing in summer and fall 2026 to support Chinook conservation.
An emergency fishing closure published on June 2 closes salmon, steelhead, and game fish seasons on the Skykomish River until Nov. 1, including previously planned fisheries for Chinook returning to the Wallace River Hatchery and steelhead returning to the Reiter Ponds Hatchery: wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations/emergency-rules/skykomish-river-fishing-will-not-open-until-nov-1-2026-06
Photo by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service showing a school of spring Chinook salmon underwater.
