The Department of Fish and Wildlife has announced the opening of coho salmon fisheries on three rivers here in Central Washington. The rivers include the Wenatchee, Icicle and Methow.

There was a small coho fishery on the Icicle in 2009, but the Wenatchee and Methow rivers haven't been open to coho fishing for at least 30 years. There are 20,000 coho expected to cross over Rock Island Dam this year, which exceeds spawning escapement and hatchery brood stock needs. Anglers are allowed three coho, clipped or not, per day. This is in addition to the steelhead and Chinook salmon bag limits.

The Chinook salmon season is open now on the Wenatchee River, through October 15th, and the steelhead season is open on the Wenatchee as well. Steelhead season is also open on the Methow River. When there is a steelhead season open on the tributaries to the Columbia River fishing is restricted to single barbless hooks with no bait allowed.

Fishing for coho salmon on the Wenatchee, Icicle and Methow rivers will remain open until October 31st. I want to remind anglers that Jameson Lake is open again this fall for October.