Late fall general turkey season open

Anyone with an un-notched turkey tag in their pocket has a few more days to notch the tag. The late fall general turkey season opened on Nov. 20 and continues through Dec. 15 in Game Management Units 105 through 154 and 162 through 186. The limit is one turkey of either sex.

I have one tag left and will be trying to fill it in GMU 133 along with hunting buddy Rudy Lopez.

Fishing closes for steelhead, rainbows on Methow, sections of upper Columbia rivers; whitefish fishing closes on Methow

From Fish and Wildlife: Action: Closure of steelhead and rainbow fishing on the upper Columbia and Methow rivers, and whitefish fishing on the Methow River. Species affected: Steelhead, rainbow trout and whitefish. The closure began on Nov 22.

Locations closed: Mainstem Columbia River: From the power lines crossing the Columbia River approximately 3/4 mile downstream of Wells Dam to the Hwy. 173 Bridge at Brewster.

Also the Methow River from the mouth to the confluence of the Chewuch River in Winthrop.

Reason for action: The updated forecast to estimate natural-origin steelhead abundance and creel information in the Methow River basin indicates that the allowable mortality of Endangered Species Act-listed steelhead due to angling (catch and release mortality) will reach the maximum limit for the waters listed above.

Tributaries remaining open to steelhead fishing until further notice include:

The Okanogan River from the mouth to the Hwy. 97 Bridge in Oroville. Also the Similkameen River: From the mouth to 400 feet below Enloe Dam. Plus the Columbia River from the Hwy. 173 Bridge at Brewster to 400 feet below Chief Joseph Dam

Also, the Columbia River from Rock Island Dam to the power lines crossing the Columbia River at Doroga State Park, and the lower Wenatchee and Entiat Rivers opened Nov. 20 to the retention of adipose-fin clipped hatchery-origin steelhead and rainbow until further notice.

Anglers should be aware that fishing rules are subject to change and that rivers can close at any time due to impacts on natural-origin steelhead. Adhering to the mandatory retention of adipose-clipped steelhead is vital in allowing the fishery to continue and to provide the maximum benefit to natural-origin fish.