Similkameen River

This small, scenic river flows from below Enloe Dam, about 4 miles from the town of Oroville, to its confluence with the Okanogan River.  Although small and short the stream has a lot to offer anglers.  It has a selective gear rule trout fishing season from the Saturday before Memorial Day to the end of October.  There is a special whitefish season from December 1^st through March 31^st.  There is also a salmon season on the Similkameen that runs from July 1^st through September 15^th, on a certain stretch of the river.  Largemouth and smallmouth bass are also caught on the Similkameen. Please refer to the WDFW Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet for specific seasons and special regulations on the Similkameen.  One of the most popular seasons is the steelhead fishing that opens in the late fall.  I had the opportunity to float the Similkameen from Oroville to where it meets the Okanogan.  I was surprised to see how much good water there was and particularly impressed with the size and quality of the steelhead that I caught.  The steelhead seasons are announced by emergency regulations on the WDFW web site.  To find public accesses and launch sites on the Similkameen please visit the WDFW web site at www.wdfw.wa.gov/lands/water_access/.

* The Similkameen Spur Trail will be closed beginning April 19 for the majority of 2021, with limited closures in 2022.