Lake Washington opens for coho fishing

Anglers will have the opportunity to fish for coho salmon in Lake Washington starting Friday.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) initially planned to keep Lake Washington closed to salmon fishing due to the low number of coho forecast to return to the watershed this year.

But the number of fish passing through the Ballard Locks in early September indicates a much stronger run of coho than anticipated.

Earlier this year, state and tribal co-managers agreed to consider allowing a fishery in Lake Washington if more than 10,000 coho were expected to return. The co-managers had projected a run of 4,414 coho to return to Lake Washington this year.

>> Related: Puget Sound-area waters reopen for fishing

"We now expect far more coho to return than forecast to Lake Washington, allowing for some salmon fishing opportunity," said Kyle Adicks, salmon fisheries policy lead for WDFW.

The recreational fishery will be open Sept. 16 through Oct. 31.

Anglers can keep two coho but are required to release chinook and sockeye salmon.

For more information on rules,

Cox Media Group