Fishing in Washington
Salmon rivers, Puget Sound, Columbia Basin lakes and Cascade high lakes, with WDFW rules for every water.
Search a town, county, lake or bait shop
- 634lakes
- 37marine pages
- 377ramp pages
Pick for salmonPiscifun Viper X spinning reel50% OFFSale $39.99 Photo of Banks Lake: brewbooks, CC BY-SA 2.0
Washington lakes, rivers, Puget Sound and the Pacific
Washington fishing splits along the Cascade crest. To the west, salmon and steelhead rivers drain the Olympics and Cascades into Puget Sound, Hood Canal and the Pacific, where marine areas open for Chinook, coho, lingcod and halibut. To the east, the Columbia and Snake run through a chain of dam pools, and the irrigation lakes of the Columbia Basin hold walleye, smallmouth, perch and trout. Hundreds of lowland lakes are planted each spring, and over a thousand high lakes sit up in the mountains.
This guide holds 634 lake pages (70 of them WDFW high lakes), 207 river pages, 37 marine pages, 377 boat ramp pages, 296 tackle shops and marinas, all 39 counties and 394 towns, each with the 2026-27 WDFW rules for its water.
For the salmon herePiscifun AlumiX spinning reel46% OFFSale $64.99 Washington's largest lakes and reservoirs, each with a page
Lake Roosevelt
83,988 acres in Stevens County and 4 other counties
Lake pageLake Umatilla
48,738 acres in Benton and Klickitat counties
Lake pageLake Chelan
32,623 acres in Chelan County
Lake pageBanks Lake
26,888 acres in Grant and Douglas counties
Lake pageLake Wallula
26,274 acres in Benton County and 2 other counties
Lake pageLake Washington
21,934 acres in King County
Lake pageLake Bonneville
19,452 acres in Skamania and Klickitat counties
Lake pageWanapum Lake
14,362 acres in Kittitas County and 3 other counties
Lake pageWashington marine areas and named bays
Admiralty Inlet (Marine Area 9)
marine area, Jefferson County and 3 other counties
Marine pageGrays Harbor (Marine Area 2-2)
marine area, Grays Harbor County
Marine pageHood Canal (Marine Area 12)
marine area, Jefferson County and 2 other counties
Marine pageIlwaco (Marine Area 1)
marine area, Pacific County
Marine pageLa Push (Marine Area 3)
marine area, Jefferson County
Marine pageNeah Bay (Marine Area 4)
marine area, Clallam County
Marine pageSan Juan Islands (Marine Area 7)
marine area, San Juan County and 2 other counties
Marine pageSekiu and Pillar Point (Marine Area 5)
marine area, Clallam County
Marine pageWashington rivers with salmon or steelhead runs
- Yakima RiverKittitas County
- Skagit RiverSkagit County
- Kalama RiverCowlitz County
- Methow RiverOkanogan County
- Wenatchee RiverChelan County
- Grande Ronde RiverAsotin County
- Chehalis RiverLewis County
- Humptulips RiverGrays Harbor County
- Klickitat RiverKlickitat County
- Skykomish RiverSnohomish County
- Snoqualmie RiverKing County
- Black RiverThurston County
- Bogachiel RiverClallam County
- Nooksack RiverWhatcom County
- Okanogan RiverOkanogan County
- Sol Duc RiverClallam County
- Cowlitz RiverLewis County
- Lewis RiverSkamania County
- Naselle RiverPacific County
- Skokomish RiverMason County
Washington statewide freshwater rules at a glance, 2026-27
| Species | Limit as printed | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | No min. size in lakes, ponds, and reservoirs. Only largemouth bass less than 12" may be retained, except 1 over 17" may be retained. Daily limit 5. | Lakes, ponds, and reservoirs: year-round; rivers, streams and beaver ponds: Sat. before Memorial Day through Oct. 31 |
| Largemouth Bass | No size restriction/daily limit in rivers, streams, and beaver ponds. | Lakes, ponds, and reservoirs: year-round; rivers, streams and beaver ponds: Sat. before Memorial Day through Oct. 31 |
| Smallmouth Bass | No min. size in lakes, ponds, and reservoirs. Only 1 smallmouth bass over 14" may be retained. Daily limit 10. | Lakes, ponds, and reservoirs: year-round; rivers, streams and beaver ponds: Sat. before Memorial Day through Oct. 31 |
| Smallmouth Bass | No size restriction/daily limit in rivers, streams, and beaver ponds. | Lakes, ponds, and reservoirs: year-round; rivers, streams and beaver ponds: Sat. before Memorial Day through Oct. 31 |
| Walleye | Min. size 12" in lakes, ponds, and reservoirs. Daily limit 8. Only 1 over 22" may be retained. May be caught, retained, and released alive from a livewell until daily limit is in possession. | Lakes, ponds, and reservoirs: year-round; rivers, streams and beaver ponds: Sat. before Memorial Day through Oct. 31 |
| Walleye | No size restriction/daily limit in rivers, streams, and beaver ponds. | Lakes, ponds, and reservoirs: year-round; rivers, streams and beaver ponds: Sat. before Memorial Day through Oct. 31 |
| Channel Catfish | No min. size in lakes, ponds, and reservoirs. Daily limit 5. | Lakes, ponds, and reservoirs: year-round; rivers, streams and beaver ponds: Sat. before Memorial Day through Oct. 31 |
| Channel Catfish | No min. size/daily limit in rivers, streams, and beaver ponds. | Lakes, ponds, and reservoirs: year-round; rivers, streams and beaver ponds: Sat. before Memorial Day through Oct. 31 |
| Burbot (Freshwater Ling) | No min. size. Daily limit 5. | Lakes, ponds, and reservoirs: year-round; rivers, streams and beaver ponds: Sat. before Memorial Day through Oct. 31 (p.23 general rule for |
| Crappie, Northern Pikeminnow, Peamouth Chub, Perch, Suckers, Sunfish, | No min. size. No daily limit. | Lakes, ponds, and reservoirs: year-round; rivers, streams and beaver ponds: Sat. before Memorial Day through Oct. 31 |
| Grass Carp | Closed unless otherwise listed in Special Rules. | Closed |
| Kokanee | No min. size. Daily limit 10. When fishing with bait, all kokanee that are lawful to possess and are equal to or greater than the minimum size are counted as part of the daily limit whether kept or released. | Lakes, ponds, and reservoirs: year-round; rivers, streams and beaver ponds: Sat. before Memorial Day through Oct. 31 (p.23 general rule for |
Limits and seasons as printed in the 2026-2027 Washington Sport Fishing Rules (WDFW pamphlet, in effect July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027), PDF page 27 (pamphlet PDF; eRegulations statewide freshwater page), read October 31, 2026.
Washington fishing dates to know
- License year: April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027annual licenses
- Lowland lake opener: the fourth Saturday in AprilWDFW program description
- Free Fishing Weekend: June 12, 2027 and June 13, 2027no license for most fish
- Rivers and streams: Saturday before Memorial Day through October 31, unless Special Rules say otherwisestatewide freshwater season
Washington's top record weights from lakes, rivers and the sea
Freshwater
- Chinook Salmon, 68.26 lbsElochoman River, Wahkiakum County, 1992
- Common Carp, 49.50 lbsMoses Lake, Grant County, 2006
- Tiger Muskie (Northern Pike / Muskellunge hybrid), 37.88 lbsCurlew Lake, Ferry County, 2014
- Channel Catfish, 37.70 lbsLake Terrell, Whatcom County, 2019
Saltwater
- Pacific Halibut, 288.00 lbsSwiftsure Bank, 1989
- Sixgill Shark, 220.00 lbsGedney Island, Snohomish County, 1991
- Striped Marlin, 134.00 lbsWestport, Grays Harbor County, 2005
- Big Skate, 130.00 lbsDouble Bluff, Island County, 1986
Charters, tackle shops and gear for a Washington trip
- Guides and charters54 listings, most in Ilwaco, Forks and Westport
- Tackle shops296 shops and marinas
- Salmon trolling flashers on Amazonfor Chinook and coho on the Sound
- Trout PowerBait on Amazonfor planted rainbows in lowland lakes
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Browse Washington by lake, river, county or town
- Lakes634 lakes
- Rivers207 rivers and creeks
- Marine water37 marine pages
- High lakes70 mountain lake pages
- Countiesall 39
- Towns394 cities and towns
- Species99 fish
- Tournamentsderbies, trails and winners
- Water levelsUSGS gauges, Corps forebays, NOAA tides
Washington rules, records and directories
- All Washington waters, A to Zlakes, marine water, rivers, counties, towns and fish
- Washington licenses and rulesfees, endorsements, catch record cards, the freshwater table
- Marine area rulessalmon and bottomfish by marine area, 1 through 13
- Special Rules by waterevery lake and river with rules of its own
- Columbia River rulesthe Oregon line, CRC areas and the CRSSE
- Free Fishing Weekendtwo June days without a license for most fish
- WDFW state recordsthe heaviest fish of each species, fresh and salt
- Trout plantsrainbows, cutthroat, browns and tigers planted in 2026
- Water levelsUSGS gauges, Corps forebays and NOAA tide stations
- Marine waterPuget Sound, the Strait, Hood Canal and the outer coast
- High lakesWDFW mountain lakes in the Cascades and Olympics
- Boat rampsWDFW and State Parks launches by county
- Shore fishing and piersdocks, piers and bank sites
- Tackle shopsbait counters, fly shops and marinas by WDFW region
- Guides and charterscharter boats and river guides by county
- Tournamentsbass, walleye and salmon derby dates and winners
- Protected speciesyelloweye, green sturgeon, sixgill and the rest
Fish pictures for Fishing in Washington
Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain
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Photo: Yellowstone National Park, Public domain
Photo: Argyleist, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Unknown, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Pengo, CC BY-SA 2.5
Photo: Maitegonza, CC BY-SA 4.0
Washington fishing basics, asked and answered
Which Washington license does a grown-up angler buy?
Anglers 16 and older need a Washington Freshwater license ($39.95 resident, $115.85 nonresident for 2026-27) or a Combination license; salmon, steelhead and sturgeon also take a catch record card.
What is the biggest Washington lake with a page here?
Lake Roosevelt, listed at 83,988 acres.
When is the next Free Fishing Weekend?
June 12, 2027 and June 13, 2027, open to residents and visitors.
When do Washington rivers open?
All freshwater areas are closed to fishing for salmon, Dolly Varden/bull trout, lamprey, and grass carp. Lakes, ponds, and reservoirs are open to fishing for game fish (except Dolly Varden/bull trout and grass carp) year-round. Rivers, streams and beaver ponds are open the Saturday before Memorial D
How many trout did WDFW plant in 2026?
The WDFW trout plants report lists 1,040 plants from January to late October 2026.
Who sets Washington fishing rules?
The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission and the Legislature; WDFW publishes them in the yearly Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet.
Can I fish the Columbia with an Oregon license?
Where the Columbia is the state line, either state’s license is valid, but an Oregon-only angler may not fish from the Washington shore or in Washington tributaries.
Where are Washington tournaments and derbies listed?
On the Washington tournaments page, with dates and posted winners.