Forks, Washington is one of the great centers of Steelhead fishing in the world, and we have just heard wind of the upcoming 2025-26 winter steelhead fishing season! The Hoh, Bogachiel, Sol Duc, Calawah Rivers and many of the smaller rivers and creeks in the area will have a season.
Expect single-point barbless hooks, no bait and careful catch and release guidelines to be in place for most of the season. Some of these rivers like the Hoh and Bogachiel will have some good retention opportunities for those earlier returning hatchery steelhead.
North Coast/Olympic Peninsula rivers and tributaries: steelhead and trout rules update
November 26, 2025
Actions:
- Updates wild trout release requirements.
- Updates game fish (including trout and steelhead) season closing dates.
- Updates game fish (including trout and steelhead) bait restrictions.
- Updates steelhead daily limits.
Effective dates: Dec. 1, 2025–April 30, 2026.
Species affected: All species.
Locations, specific dates, and rule changes (shows all changes to rules listed in 2025-26 Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet):
Big River(Clallam County), outside Olympic National Park:
- Jan. 1–Feb. 28:
- Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
Bogachiel River (Clallam County), from mouth to Olympic National Park boundary:
-
From mouth to Highway 101 Bridge:
- Dec. 1–31:
- Hatchery steelhead: Daily limit two.
- Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
- Jan. 1–March 31:
- All species: Bait prohibited.
- Hatchery steelhead: Daily limit two.
- Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
- April 1–30:
- All species: Closed.
- Dec. 1–31:
- From Highway 101 Bridge to Olympic National Park boundary:
- Dec. 1–March 31:
- Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
- April 1–30:
- All species: Closed.
- Dec. 1–March 31:
Calawah River (Clallam County):
- From mouth to Highway 101 Bridge:
- Dec. 1–31:
- Hatchery steelhead: Daily limit two.
- Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
- Jan. 1–March 31:
- All species: Bait prohibited.
- Hatchery steelhead: Daily limit two.
- Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
- April 1–30:
- All species: Closed.
- Dec. 1–31:
- From Highway 101 Bridge to the confluence of the north and south forks:
- Dec. 1–March 31:
- Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
- April 1–30:
- All species: Closed.
- Dec. 1–March 31:
Calawah River, South Fork (Clallam County), from mouth to Olympic National Park boundary:
- Dec. 1–Feb. 28:
- Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
Cedar Creek(Jefferson County), outside Olympic National Park:
- Dec. 1–Feb. 28:
- Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
Clallam River (Clallam County):
- Dec. 1–Jan. 31:
- Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
Dickey River(Clallam County), from Olympic National Park boundary upstream to the confluence of the east and west forks:
- Dec. 1–31:
- Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
- Jan. 1–March 31:
- All species: Bait prohibited.
- Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
- April 1–30:
- All species: Closed.
Dickey River, east and west forks (Clallam County):
- Dec. 1–March 31:
- Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
Goodman Creek (Jefferson County), outside Olympic National Park:
- Dec. 1–Feb. 28:
- Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
Hoh River (Jefferson County):
- From Olympic National Park boundary upstream to the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Oxbow Campground boat launch:
- Dec. 1–31:
- Hatchery steelhead: Daily limit two.
- Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
- Jan. 1–March 31:
- All species: Bait prohibited.
- Hatchery steelhead: Daily limit two.
- Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
- April 1–15:
- All species: Closed.
- Dec. 1–31:
- From the DNR Oxbow Campground boat launch to Morgan’s Crossing boat launch:
- Dec. 1–March 31:
- Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
- April 1–15:
- All species: Closed.
- Dec. 1–March 31:
- From Morgan’s Crossing boat launch to Olympic National Park boundary below mouth of South Fork Hoh River:
- Dec. 1–Feb. 28:
- Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
- March 1–April 15:
- All species: Closed.
- Dec. 1–Feb. 28:
Hoh River, South Fork (Jefferson County), outside Olympic National Park:
- Dec. 1–Feb. 28:
- Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
- March 1–April 15:
- All species: Closed.
Hoko River (Clallam County):
- From mouth to 100 feet downstream of the hatchery fish ladder:
- Dec. 1–March 15:
- Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
- Dec. 1–March 15:
- From the hatchery fish ladder to the upper Hoko Bridge:
- Dec. 1–March 15:
- Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
- Dec. 1–March 15:
Kalaloch Creek (Jefferson County), outside Olympic National Park:
- Dec. 1–Feb. 28:
- Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
Lyre River (Clallam County), from the mouth to falls near river mile three:
- Dec. 1–Jan. 31:
- Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
Mosquito Creek (Jefferson County), from Olympic National Park boundary upstream to Goodman 3000 Mainline Bridge:
- Dec. 1–Feb. 28:
- Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
Pysht River (Clallam County):
- Dec. 1–Jan. 31:
- Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
Quillayute River (Clallam County), outside of Olympic National Park boundary:
- Dec. 1–31:
- Hatchery steelhead: Daily limit two.
- Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
- Jan. 1–March 31:
- All species: Bait prohibited.
- Hatchery steelhead: Daily limit two.
- Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
- All species: Bait prohibited.
- April 1–30:
- All species: Closed.
Sekiu River (Clallam County), from mouth to forks:
- Dec. 1–Jan. 31:
- Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
Sol Duc River (Clallam County):
- From mouth to concrete pump station at Sol Duc Hatchery:
- Jan. 1–March 31:
- All species: Bait prohibited.
- April 1–30:
- All species: Closed.
- Jan. 1–March 31:
- From concrete pump station at Sol Duc Hatchery to Highway 101 Bridge upstream of Klahowya Campground:
- April 1–30:
- All species: Closed.
- April 1–30:
Thunder Creek (Clallam County), from mouth to D2400 Road:
- Dec. 1–April 30:
- All species: Closed.
Reason for action: These rule changes implement permanent rules adopted by the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission on Nov. 14.
Additional information: 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 2025–26 Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet for current regulations. Download the Fish Washington® mobile app to stay up to date on the go.
Information contact: Coastal Region, TeamMontesano@dfw.wa.gov, 360-249-4628.
Fishers must have a current Washington fishing license, appropriate to the fishery. Check the WDFW "Fishing in Washington" rules pamphlet for details on definitions and regulations. Fishing rules are subject to change. Visit wdfw.wa.gov/fishing-hotlines to find a list of mobile, web, print, or customer service phone options for the latest rule information.
