Want to fish for chum salmon on the Nooksack? You'd better hurry

State fisheries officials said Friday they will close the main stem of the Nooksack River to chum salmon fishing this month, effective Sunday, because of low numbers of the fish returning this fall.

The closure affects the river from the confluence of the north and south forks near Deming downstream to the Lummi Indian Reservation boundary, Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife said in a news release. Chum fishing on the North Fork closed Friday by permanent rule.

The Nooksack Tribe and Lummi Nation have agreed to close their chum fisheries on the river as well.

The closure is necessary to ensure natural escapement and hatchery goals are met, WDFW said.

Sport fisheries for other species will remain open on the Nooksack as allowed by state regulations.

This story was originally published December 1, 2017 at 2:06 PM with the headline "Want to fish for chum salmon on the Nooksack? You'd better hurry."