Franklin Connection - Serving Franklin County, WA

RINGOLD — The state is opening steelhead fishing from the shore beginning Wednesday, April 7.

The fishery is open on the Franklin County shoreline from a quarter-mile downstream of the Ringold wasteway outlet to a halfmile upstream of Ringold Springs Hatchery Creek.

Fishermen are allowed on the bank, only. Retention is restricted to hatchery fish with clipped adipose and ventral fins.

Two fish may be caught each day; the minimum size to retain is 20 inches.

The fishery will close Thursday, April 15, officials said.

The steelhead fishery here was previously closed by state officials who expected low returns. But the broodstock collection has completed, allowing for reopening.

Officials said the hatchery needed 300,000 fertizilez eggs at the Ringold Springs Hatchery to be able to produce and release 180,000 juvenile steelhead next year.