The North of Falcon process has ended and the salmon seasons for this year have been set.  I attended a couple of their meetings and what a long, laborious process that is.  That being said, if you are a Snohomish River fisherman, you’ll love it.  If not, well you’ll hate it.

To start the season, the Skykomish River will have it’s usual Chinook opener June 1st.  Come August 1st the Snohomish River will open for Pinks and Coho below the Hwy. 9 bridge in Snohomish.  August 16th  the Snohomish opens above the Hwy. 9 bridge for salmon.  Most of the Skykomish and Snoqualmie Rivers will open for salmon September 1st.  The limit will be three fish.

The run size has been projected to be quite small for Pinks this year compared to the last several runs.  The Snohomish run is projected at about 171,000 fish – leaving about 50,000 fish for sportsmen to catch.  Our neighbors to the north didn’t fare to well.  Both the Skagit and Stillaguamish Rivers are expecting very low runs of both Pinks and Coho and neither will be open this year for those fish.  The local marine areas also took a hit.  Areas 8-1, 8-2, and 9 will not open for Pinks or Coho to protect the Skagit and Stillaguamish systems.  There will be a limited season for both in Area 10 however.  Be sure to check the regulations when they come out for exact dates of fisheries.