Southwest Washington is a region with some of the best Steelhead fishing rivers in the state, and one river system with some really impressive hatchery Steelhead returns, and some of the largest returns of Wild Steelhead, will see a pretty good winter season this year.
The mainstem Willapa River is well known for it's steelhead returns, but also it is infamously lacking in public access, so most anglers focus on the area at and below the hatchery. This is a great area to explore, and ample opportunities to land a trophy Steelhead. The entire area has multiple other river that have Steelhead, and definitely worth hunting for your next Steelhead spot.
Willapa Bay tributaries fishing 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) gear restrictions.
Effective dates: Dec. 1, 2025–April 15, 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):
Bear River (Pacific County), from mouth (Highway 101 Bridge) to Longview Fiber Bridge:
- Dec. 1–March 31:
- All species: Selective gear rules.
- Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
Naselle River (Pacific/Wahkiakum counties):
- From Highway 101 Bridge to 300 feet below the upstream entrance of the Naselle Hatchery attraction channel:
- Dec. 1–Jan. 31:
- All species: Anti-snagging rule. Single-point barbless hooks required. Night closure.
- Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
- Feb.1–March 31:
- All species: Selective gear rules.
- Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
- April 1–15:
- All species: Closed.
- Dec. 1–Jan. 31:
- From the upstream entrance of the Naselle Hatchery attraction channel to 400 feet downstream of the falls in Sec. 6, T10N, R8W:
- Dec. 1–Jan. 31:
- All species: Anti-snagging rule. Single-point barbless hooks required. Night closure.
- Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
- Feb.1–March 31:
- All species: Selective gear rules.
- Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
- April 1–15:
- All species: Closed.
- Dec. 1–Jan. 31:
- From the falls in Sec. 6, T10N, R8W, to the Crown Mainline (Salme) Bridge:
- Dec. 1–Jan. 31:
- All species: Anti-snagging rule. Single-point barbless hooks required. Night closure.
- Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
- Feb.1–March 31:
- All species: Selective gear rules.
- Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
- April 1–15:
- All species: Closed.
- Dec. 1–Jan. 31:
- From the Crown Mainline (Salme) Bridge to the mouth of the North Fork:
- Dec. 1–March 31:
- All species: Selective Gear Rules.
- Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
- April 1–15:
- All species: Closed.
- Dec. 1–March 31:
Naselle River, South (Pacific County), from mouth to Bean Creek:
- Dec. 1–March 31:
- All species: Selective gear rules.
- Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
- Other game fish: Statewide minimum size/daily limit.
Nemah River, Middle (Pacific County):
- From the mouth to the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) decommissioned bridge on the Middle Nemah A-Line Road:
- Dec. 1–March 31:
- All species: Selective gear rules.
- Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
- Dec. 1–March 31:
- From the DNR decommissioned bridge on the Middle Nemah A-Line Road upstream:
- Dec. 1–March 31:
- All species: Closed.
- Dec. 1–March 31:
Nemah River, North (Pacific County):
- From Highway 101 Bridge to the fishing boundary sign (approximately 210 feet above the Nemah Hatchery Bridge):
- Dec. 1–March 31:
- All species: Selective gear rules.
- Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
- Dec. 1–March 31:
- From the Nemah Hatchery Dam to N-700 Road (46°28.58N, 123°48.54W):
- Dec. 1–March 31:
- All species: Selective gear rules.
- Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
- Dec. 1–March 31:
- From N-700 Road (46°28.58N, 123°48.54W) to Cruiser Creek:
- Dec. 1–March 31:
- All species: Closed.
- Dec. 1–March 31:
Nemah River, South (Pacific County), from mouth (Lynn Point, 117 degrees true to opposite shore) upstream:
- Dec. 1–March 31:
- All species: Selective gear rules.
- Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
North River (Grays Harbor/Pacific County):
- From Highway 105 Bridge to Fall River:
- Dec. 1–March 31:
- All species: Selective gear rules.
- Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
- Other game fish: Statewide minimum size/daily limit.
- Dec. 1–March 31:
- From Fall River to Raimie Creek:
- Dec. 1–Feb. 28:
- All species: Closed.
- Dec. 1–Feb. 28:
Palix River, including all forks (Pacific County):
- From Highway 101 Bridge to the mouth of the Middle Fork:
- Dec. 1–March 31:
- Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
- Dec. 1–March 31:
- From the confluence with the Middle Fork upstream (all forks, including South Fork Palix and Canon rivers):
- Dec. 16–March 31:
- Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
- Dec. 16–March 31:
Salmon Creek (Pacific and Wahkiakum counties):
- Dec. 1–March 31:
- All species: Selective gear rules.
- Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
- Other game fish: Statewide minimum size/daily limit.
Smith Creek (Pacific County):
- From mouth to Highway 101 Bridge:
- Dec. 1–March 31:
- All species: Selective gear rules.
- Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
- Other game fish: Statewide minimum size/daily limit.
- Dec. 1–March 31:
- From Highway 101 Bridge upstream:
- Dec. 1–Feb. 28:
- All species: Closed.
- Dec. 1–Feb. 28:
Willapa River (Pacific County):
- From mouth (city of South Bend boat launch) to the WDFW access site at the mouth of Ward and Wilson creeks:
- Dec. 1–Jan. 31:
- All species: Anti-snagging rule. Single-point barbless hooks required. Night closure.
- Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
- Other game fish: Statewide minimum size/daily limit.
- Feb. 1–March 31:
- All species: Selective gear rules.
- Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
- Other game fish: Statewide minimum size/daily limit.
- Dec. 1–Jan. 31:
- From the WDFW access site at Ward and Wilson creeks to the Highway 6 Bridge near the town of Lebam:
- Dec. 1–Jan. 31:
- All species: Anti-snagging rule. Single-point barbless hooks required. Night closure.
- Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
- Feb. 1–March 31:
- All species: Selective gear rules.
- Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
- Dec. 1–Jan. 31:
Willapa River, South Fork (Pacific County):
- From mouth to 400 feet downstream of falls/fish ladder in Sec. 6, T13N, R8W:
- Dec. 1–March 31:
- All species: Selective gear rules.
- Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
- Other game fish: Statewide minimum size/daily limit.
- Dec. 1–March 31:
- From falls/fish ladder in Sec. 6, T13N, R8W, to Pehl Road:
- Dec. 1–March 31:
- All Species: Selective gear rules.
- Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
- Other game fish: Statewide minimum size/daily limit.
- Dec. 1–March 31:
- From Pehl Road upstream:
- Dec. 1–March 31:
- Trout: Statewide minimum size/daily limit, except release cutthroat and wild rainbow.
- Other game fish: Statewide minimum size/daily limit.
- Dec. 1–March 31:
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.
