Salmon & Steelhead Conservation

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife developed the 21st Century Salmon and Steelhead Initiative to meet its responsibilities in recovering salmon and steelhead and provide sustainable fisheries. This resulted in an integrated management framework designed to restore federally listed populations through six salmon recovery plans. Create and maintain selective and sustainable fisheries. Also they want to protect and restore habitat for the fish. Retool hatchery operations to support wild fish recovery. Through the initiative, WDFW is following a comprehensive “all-H” model in which management decisions on hatchery, harvest, habitat and hydro activities are coordinated to restore salmon and steelhead populations and meet sustainable fishery goals.

The state’s single biggest fishing season opens April 24, with lakes throughout the state stocked with millions of hatchery-reared fish by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Although many lakes are open year round, the last Saturday in April marks the traditional start of a four-to five-month-long lowland-lakes fishing season. "This is our biggest fishing season opener and it traditionally draws more than 300,000 anglers of all ages," said WDFW Director Phil Anderson. "It’s a good time to gather family and friends at local waterways to cast off winter and celebrate spring." With lakes in every county of the state well stocked, anglers can keep travel costs down by enjoying good fishing close to home.