WDFW warns anglers of possible Chehalis Tribe citations on a 10-mile stretch

Washington is telling Chehalis River anglers to treat a 10-mile stretch as disputed water. A Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife statement dated Sept. 29, 2026, says the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation have indicated they may cite non-tribal members fishing that section unless those anglers obtain a $500 boat fishing permit or a $45 bank fishing permit from the tribe.

WDFW says it disputes the tribe’s legal arguments for citing people who are lawfully fishing a state-managed fishery on a navigable river. The department still wants anglers and guides to know a tribal citation is possible, and that fishing gear or a boat could be seized. The stretch it describes runs from about South Bank Road near Oakville upstream to Moon Road SW near Helsing Junction, through non-contiguous reservation land, off-reservation tribal trust land, and private land in Grays Harbor County. WDFW calls the Chehalis a federally navigable river and a popular fall coho and steelhead fishery under the state sport rules.

The department says it is talking with Chehalis tribal leadership, the State Attorney General’s Office, and county leadership and law enforcement about the tribe’s claim of sole authority on that section. Until that is settled, WDFW’s advice is to avoid the section or float through without anchoring, wading, or fishing from shore. If tribal law enforcement, fisheries staff, or tribal members make contact, the statement says to stay polite, show a valid Washington fishing license and catch record card if asked, and ask whether you are being detained. If gear or a boat is seized, contact the local sheriff or WDFW Police. Media contact on the statement is the WDFW Communications Office.

This is the Sept. 29 Chehalis notice, not the Puget Sound crab opener or the Oct. 9 commission meeting already on the desk.

This is a The Gillnet news desk summary, not a reprint.

Source: WDFW — Statement on Chehalis Tribes’ intent to cite recreational anglers fishing section of Chehalis River (Sept. 29, 2026).