WDFW sets salmon season, closes recreational fishing for stretch of Nooksack River

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife recently announced the opening of a salmon season and the closure of all recreational fishing on a segment of the Nooksack River.

The effective dates for both actions are Oct. 30 to Dec. 1.

The portion of the river closed to recreational fishing runs from the Lummi Indian Reservation boundary to the yellow marker approximately 0.65 miles upstream of Slater Road, according to a WDFW news release.

The salmon season is open from the yellow marker approximately 0.65 miles upstream of Slater Road to the FFA high school barn in Deming. Harvested salmon must be at least 12 inches long. There’s a daily limit of six, including no more than two wild coho, two chum, two Chinook and four pink salmon.

“Co-manager agreements from the North of Falcon season-setting process identified that recreational fishery openings in the lower Nooksack after Oct. 27 would be dependent on in-season management discussions. In-season discussions led to the closure area in this rule to avoid gear conflicts during co-manager chum fisheries,” the release states. “Coho and chum salmon returns are sufficient for additional salmon fishing opportunities above the closure area.”

Fishery managers encourage anglers to sign up for Fishing Rule Change email notifications and to check for emergency rules on the WDFW website before fishing. Refer to the 2025–2026 Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet for current regulations. Download the Fish Washington® mobile app to stay up to date on the go.