Stillaguamish mainstem closes to all fishing through Nov. 1 over Chinook encounters

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife closed recreational fishing for all species in the mainstem Stillaguamish River from Oct. 9 through Nov. 1, 2026. The reach runs from Marine Drive, south of Stanwood, upstream to the forks at the confluence of the North Fork and South Fork near Arlington.

Preliminary monitoring shows sport fisheries have reached the allowable Chinook encounters for this year’s salmon season. By Nov. 2, the department expects most of the Chinook to be gone, and sport fisheries are expected to resume under the 2026–27 Washington Sport Fishing Rules.

The lower North Fork from the mouth to the Highway 530 Bridge (Cicero Bridge) remains closed as previously announced. Under annual rules, the upper North Fork from the Highway 530 Bridge to North Fork Falls stays closed to all fishing until Nov. 1, and the South Fork from the mouth to the Mountain Loop Highway Bridge above Granite Falls stays closed to all fishing until Nov. 1. The North Puget Sound Region can be reached at TeamMillCreek@dfw.wa.gov or 425-775-1311. The action was filed as WSR 26-21-002 on Oct. 7, 2026, on the WDFW emergency rules list.

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

Source: FishingWA — Stillaguamish River to close to all fishing Oct. 9. Emergency rules list: WDFW 2026 rule changes.