The Department of Fish and Wildlife has just announced that anglers may retain unclipped Chinook salmon on the Entiat River, beginning on Friday, August 18th. The area open to salmon fishing on the Entiat is from the mouth (the railroad bridge) to the boundary markers located approximately 1,500 feet upstream of Upper Roaring Creek Road Bridge, which is immediately downstream of the Entiat National Fish Hatchery. The reason for the special rule is that summer-run salmon are not native to the Entiat and are the result of smolt releases from the National Fish Hatchery. The return of summer-run salmon, both clipped and unclipped, is in excess of hatchery brood stock needs. The expansion of the harvest to include unclipped fish will help reduce the impacts related to spawning between summer Chinook and native spring Chinook. Native spring Chinook are protected under the federal Endangered Species Act. The daily salmon limit on the Entiat is two adult or jack Chinook only and may be comprised of adipose fin clipped or unclipped fish. Selective rules apply and night closure is in effect. Please read the full news release for more details on this special opportunity.