The state Department of Fish and Wildlife just announced it plans to close recreational salmon fishing on the lower Nisqually River on Saturday. The Nisqually Tribe also will shut down its chum fishery.

The river will be closed from the mouth to military tank crossing bridge, located one mile upstream of mouth of Muck Creek.

A department news release said based on spawner surveys and harvest information, the department is concerned the winter chum return is not as abundant as forecast and has the potential to fall short of the escapement goal. Given this information and the need to …

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Anglers looking to hook some big trout should try Beaver Lake near Issaquah next week. The state Department of Fish and Wildlife plans to release Monday about 2,000 hatchery rainbows averaging 3 pounds each.

To facilitate fish planting, the department will close the Beaver Lake access site at sunset Sunday and reopen the site at sunrise on Tuesday. Beaver Lake, however, will remain open to fishing while the access site is closed.

The trout were part of an educational display at the department’s Issaquah Hatchery.

Beaver Lake is best fished by small boat, although anglers also can …

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