Lake Washington coho fishing closed Sept. 16 after weak Ballard Locks counts

Washington’s Lake Washington coho opener does not happen Wednesday. WDFW’s emergency rule, posted Sept. 14, closes salmon fishing effective Sept. 16, 2026, until further notice in Lake Washington (King County) north of the SR 520 Albert D. Rosellini Evergreen Point Floating Bridge and east of the Montlake Bridge, including the Sammamish River near Kenmore from the 68th Ave. NE Bridge downstream. Coho is the species named.

Ballard Locks counts drove the call. Managers say in-season fish counts at the Hiram M. Chittenden (Ballard) Locks show the Lake Washington/Lake Sammamish basin coho return is smaller than forecasted, and the close is needed to hit broodstock and natural spawning goals. Preliminary daily counts during survey hours stay on WDFW’s Lake Washington salmon-counts page; they are subject to revision.

Sound Publishing’s Tuesday write-up (Mercer Island Reporter, Seattle Weekly, Bellevue Reporter) quotes that same WDFW language. North Puget Sound Region: 425-775-1311. Sign up for Fishing Rule Change emails and check the emergency-rules list before you wet a line.

Photo: Roger Tabor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (coho).

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

Source: WDFW — Salmon fishing to close in Lake Washington (emergency rule, Sept. 14, 2026). Also: Mercer Island Reporter — No fishing for coho salmon in Lake Washington (Bailey Jo Josie, Sept. 15, 2026). WDFW Lake Washington salmon counts.