Fishing closure for white sturgeon

WHITMAN COUNTY – On Wednesday, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife invoked a closure for the fishery of white sturgeon, effective until one hour after sunset on Sept. 30.

The fishing closure bans the fishing of or retention of the fish in Lake Roosevelt, and expands from Grand Coulee Dam to China Bend boat ramp, including the Spokane River from Highway 25 Bridge upstream to 400’ below Little Falls Dam, Colville River upstream to Meyers Falls Dam and the Kettle River upstream to the Barstow Bridge.

The reason for the closure is the anticipated harvest and fishery impacts that will be achieved for the 2022 season, according to a press release.

Managers will evaluate the 2022 Lake Roosevelt catch and harvest for the fish prior to establishing rules for the 2023 season.