The Wynoochee River is best known in the sport-fishing community for its contribution to the in-between winter steelhead season, filling the gap between early and late returning winter steelhead for Western Washington steelheaders.
The Wynoochee River originates from the south slopes of the wild and rugged Olympic mountains and winds its way south until it dumps into the Chehalis River near Montesano.
Wynoochee means “shifting”, and flood control has always been a concern on this river.
The Wynoochee Dam was completed in 1974 for flood control and other reasons along with a hydro-electric generation project in 1994. You can read more about it on Tacoma Power’s Wynoochee River Project page here.
Recent Blog Posts about the Wynoochee River
- WDFW Announces 2023-2024 Coastal Steelhead Season
- Washington Coastal Steelhead update after Oct 2023 Townhall
- Chehalis River Winter Steelhead 2022-2023
- Washington Coast Steelhead 2023
- 2023 Washington Coast Steelhead Preview
Wynoochee River Winter Steelhead Fishing 2023-2024
Like all of the Chehalis River tributaries in the 2023-2024 winter steelhead fishing season, the topic of the Wynoochee River having an open season is the subject of significant controversy.
Unfortunately, despite WDFW having a plan to protect wild steelhead during a mark-selective season on hatchery fish, the decision was made not to open the river again for steelhead fishing.
You can read more about the topic of working with WDFW to address concerns about wild steelhead conservation while having a season on hatchery fish here.
Updated status on hatchery winter steelhead returning to the Wynoochee River
The above escapement graph updates each week as WDFW publishes weekly escapement numbers from hatchery managers.
When to fish for winter steelhead on the Wynoochee River?
As you can see, the primary harvest opportunity spans from mid-January to early-mid March on most years.
Forecast for the 2023-2024 winter steelhead fishing season on the Wynoochee River
Smolt plants of steelhead on the Wynoochee River have remained steady and even increased slightly in recent years.
Had there been a season in 2024, you could expect decent fishing on par with previous years.
The Wynoochee River has been closed for hatchery winter steelhead harvest from 2022-2024.
How to fish for winter steelhead on the Wynoochee River?
I have several important resources on PNWBestLife.com and the YouTube channel to help you become a better winter steelhead angler.
It all starts with reading water. Check out our guide: How to read water for winter steelhead.
Also, check out the YouTube video.
I’ve also got a complete guide to Winter Steelhead Fishing you should check out and again, an accompanying YouTube video below:
Fishing Regulations on the Wynoochee River for 2023-2024
| Species | Date | Additiional Rules |
from mouth to WDFW White Bridge access site CRC (337) |
||
All species |
Aug. 1-Sept. 30 |
Selective gear rules. |
Oct. 1-Nov. 30 |
Single-point barbless hooks required. |
|
Trout |
Sat. before Memorial Day-Mar. 31 |
Statewide min. size/daily limit. Except: Cutthroat trout and wild rainbow trout: min. size 14”. |
Other game fish |
Sat. before Memorial Day-Mar. 31 |
Statewide min. size/daily limit. |
Salmon |
Oct. 1-Nov. 30 |
Min. size 12”. Daily limit 6 including no more than 2 adults. Release adult Chinook. |
Dec. 1-Dec. 31 |
Min. size 12”. Daily limit 6 including no more than 1 adult. Release Chinook. |
|
from WDFW White Bridge access site to 7400 Line Bridge CRC (337) |
||
All species |
Aug. 16-Sept. 15 |
Single-point barbless hooks required. |
Sept. 16-Nov. 30 |
Bait prohibited. Single-point barbless hooks required. |
|
Trout |
Sat. before Memorial Day-Mar. 31 |
Statewide min. size/daily limit. Except: Cutthroat trout and wild rainbow trout: min. size 14”. |
Other game fish |
Sat. before Memorial Day-Mar. 31 |
Statewide min. size/daily limit. |
from 7400 Line Bridge to 400’ downstream of barrier dam near Grisdale CRC (337) |
||
All species |
Selective gear rules. |
|
Trout |
Sat. before Memorial Day-Mar. 31 |
Statewide min. size/daily limit. Except: Cutthroat trout and wild rainbow trout: min. size 14”. |
Other game fish |
Sat. before Memorial Day-Mar. 31 |
Statewide min. size/daily limit. |
from barrier dam near Grisdale to 400’ downstream of Wynoochee Dam CRC (337) |
||
All species |
Selective gear rules. |
|
Trout |
Sat. before Memorial Day-Mar. 31 |
Statewide min. size/daily limit. Except: Cutthroat trout and wild rainbow trout: min. size 14”. |
Other game fish |
Sat. before Memorial Day-Mar. 31 |
Statewide min. size/daily limit. |
400’ downstream from barrier dam near Grisdale to the barrier dam |
||
All species |
CLOSED WATERS. |
|
upstream of Wynoochee reservoir to Wynoochee Falls CRC (337) |
||
All species |
Selective gear rules. |
|
Trout |
Sat. before Memorial Day-Mar. 31 |
Statewide min. size/daily limit. Except: Cutthroat trout and wild rainbow trout: min. size 14”. |
Other game fish |
Sat. before Memorial Day-Mar. 31 |
Statewide min. size/daily limit. |
from 400’ downstream of Wynoochee Dam to Wynoochee dam |
||
All species |
CLOSED WATERS. |
|
You should always check WDFW’s Emergency Rules page before you go to ensure you have the latest information about what the regulations are.
We’ve linked the WDFW announcement of “no winter steelhead fishing” above, but you can also find it on that Emergency Rules page.
Conservation and Habitat concerns on the Wynoochee River
The primary conservation concern on the Wynoochee River lately has been related to natural origin winter steelhead.
There are also conservation and habitat concerns for chinook salmon which are still struggling to maintain stable populations.
Returns of these natural origin winter steelhead have missed spawning escapement targets for the last several years sparking concerns among tribal and sport-fishing communities as well as regulatory groups.
You can read more about some of the work being done to restore habitat on the Wynoochee River at the WDFW page on the topic here.
