Mexican Fish Report

Action: Prohibits all angling in the northwest portion of the lake, identified by fishing boundary signs located on the north and west shorelines of Drano Lake.

Effective date: Sept. 4, 2021, until further notice.

Species affected: All species.      

Location: Waters of Drano Lake located between a line projected through shoreline markers (located on north and west shores) approximately 2,000’ downstream of the Little White Salmon National Fish Hatchery, upstream to the deadline markers at the mouth of the Little White Salmon River immediately below the fish hatchery.

Rule: Closed to angling for all species.  

Reason for action: Steelhead fishing and retention throughout Drano Lake was closed from July through October 2021, based on low preseason forecasts of summer steelhead returning to the Columbia River. Subsequently, an additional boat angling restriction was implemented in a sub-area of Drano Lake to address steelhead angling closure violations observed by fisheries enforcement. While the boat angling restriction has been effective, enforcement officers have observed increased targeting of steelhead along shoreline areas. The need for this rule is the result of continued angling violations in the area, increasing concern for summer steelhead returning to the Columbia River in record low numbers, and the need to manage sport fishing impacts to ESA-listed stocks within the limits established in the 2018-2027 US v. Oregon Management Agreement.

Additional information: WDFW will continue to monitor the Drano Lake fishery and determine if additional fishery modification is needed.  Anglers are reminded to check the WDFW Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet and emergency rules webpage regularly for the latest fishing information.

A diagram of this area can be found at:  wdfw.wa.gov/sites/default/files/styles/page_body_full_width/public/2021-09/dranofigure1.jpg

Information contact: Matt Gardner, District Fish Biologist, 360-906-6746.