The Department of Fish and Wildlife has announced the closure of the steelhead season on three locations in our region. Now closed to fishing is the main stem Columbia River from the Highway 173 Bridge at Brewster to 400 feet below Chief Joseph Dam. The Okanogan River from the mouth to the Highway 97 Bridge in Oroville is now closed as is the Similkameen River from the mouth to 400 feet below Enloe Dam. These closures were made to minimize impacts on spawning steelhead. Steelhead fishing remains open on the Columbia River from Rock Island Dam to the powerlines crossing the river at Daroga State Park, the Wenatchee River from the mouth to 400 feet below Tumwater Dam, the Icicle River from the mouth to 500 feet downstream of the Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery Barrier Dam, and the Entiat River from the mouth to approximately a half mile upstream. All the rules pertaining to steelhead fishing are still in effect. Please visit the department’s web site and read the official news release for all the details on these rule changes.