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Lake Wallula 37 mi
Photo: Steve Riddle, Public domain 
Yakima River 1.7 mi
Photo: brewbooks, CC BY-SA 2.0 
Kennewick 28 mi
Photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0 
Columbia River 25 mi
Photo: Bonnie Moreland, Public domain
Washington counties
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Fishing in Benton County, Washington
County seat: Prosser. Population 206,873.
- 6lake pages
- 4launches
- 3river pages
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Benton County, Washington
Benton County from a Washington angler's seat
Census takers counted 206,873 people across Benton County in 2020, and county government sits in Prosser. Stocking rows for the county carry the WDFW Region 3 label in the WDFW report. A neighbouring state holds part of Lake Umatilla, Lake Wallula and Snake River.
6 lakes here carry a full page, together 75,096 acres, the biggest being Lake Umatilla. WDFW distribution maps place salmon or steelhead runs in Yakima River, Snake River and Columbia River. Boaters get 4 boat launches from the agency layers, managed by 3 WDFW and 1 other agencies. The WDFW layer shows 30 shore or access sites for fishing on foot; 15 are piers.
6lake pages
4boat launches
3river pages
4shops listed
Census 2020 population; WDFW Fish Washington lake layers, WDFW facilities and State Parks launch layers (WDFW GIS); WDFW marine areas; retrieved October 31, 2026.
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Pins for every mapped launch across Benton County
WDFW and State Parks launch layers, WDFW facilities, WDFW lake points, NHD river midpoints and WDFW marine area points. Checked November 2026.
Lakes
Which lakes in Benton County earned their own guide
| Lake | Acres | Launches | WDFW program | Fish WDFW maps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Umatilla | 48,738 | 0 | Mixed species – Warmwater emphasis | largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, walleye |
| Lake Wallula | 26,274 | 5 | Mixed species – Warmwater emphasis | largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, walleye |
| Yellepit Pond | 35 | 0 | Warmwater emphasis | largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, brown bullhead |
| Mound Pond | 34 | 0 | Warmwater emphasis | largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, brown bullhead |
| Columbia Park Pond | 10 | 0 | Mixed species – Trout emphasis | rainbow trout, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass |
| Switch Pond | 5 | 0 | Warmwater emphasis | largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, brown bullhead |
WDFW Fish Washington lowland and high lake layers (surface acres as published, management emphasis, mapped species); WDFW publishes no lake depths in these layers. Retrieved October 31, 2026.
Species
Fish named most often on water near Benton County
Across water pages within 50 miles of Prosser, largemouth bass is named more than any other fish.
Species mapped in the WDFW Fish Washington layers, WDFW state records and the 2026 WDFW trout plants, counted per water page within 50 miles; not a survey.
More water
Alpine tarns and ponds dotted over Benton County
A further 2 lakes in Benton County are mapped but thin on facts.
| Water | Acres | WDFW program | Nearest town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palmer Pond | 5 | Warmwater emphasis | Finley |
| Mitchell Pond | 3 | Warmwater emphasis | Finley |
WDFW Fish Washington lowland and high lake layers and USGS NHD lake outlines, retrieved October 31, 2026.
Rivers
Streams to drift or wade in Benton County
- Yakima RiverSWIFD lists chinook, coho and kokanee, 15 mapped launches, 5 WDFW shore or access sites, 5 USGS gauges, 218 mi in Washington
- Snake RiverSWIFD lists chinook, sockeye and steelhead trout, 1 mapped launch, 2 USGS gauges, 176 mi in Washington
- Columbia RiverSWIFD lists chinook, chum and coho, 8 WDFW shore or access sites, 6 USGS gauges, 728 mi in Washington
More creeks and sloughs of Benton County (3)
- Chandler Canal1 WDFW shore or access site, 10 mi in Washington
- Kiona Canal1 WDFW shore or access site, 10 mi in Washington
- P E Sixteen Point Four Wasteway2 mapped launches, 1 WDFW shore or access site, 10 mi in Washington
River gauges of Benton County
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Yakima River At Kiona, Wa | 1,680 cfs, 4.12 ft gage height | Nov 11 5:30 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 11, 2026 6:33 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
USGS NHD flowlines and Washington lengths, WDFW SWIFD salmon and steelhead distribution, WDFW and State Parks launches, USGS gauges; retrieved October 31, 2026.
Stocking
Stocked trout in the lakes of Benton County
In 2026, 7 WDFW plants put 12,333 trout into 2 waters inside Benton County.
- Columbia Park PondRainbow, 56 fish at 0.5 per pound, April 16, 2026, Meseberg Hatchery
- Columbia Park PondRainbow, 5,530 fish at 1 per pound, April 16, 2026, Meseberg Hatchery
- Columbia Park PondRainbow, 500 fish at 0.8 per pound, April 14, 2026, Naches Hatchery
- Col River @ Columbia ParkRainbow, 2,000 fish at 2.5 per pound, April 14, 2026, Naches Hatchery
- Columbia Park PondRainbow, 200 fish at 0.8 per pound, March 23, 2026, Naches Hatchery
- Columbia Park PondRainbow, 2,035 fish at 2.2 per pound, March 23, 2026, Naches Hatchery
- Columbia Park PondRainbow, 2,012 fish at 2.3 per pound, February 25, 2026, Naches Hatchery
WDFW Trout Plants report (rows January 2 to October 27, 2026), read October 31, 2026; newest plants first.
Access
Ramp and pier inventory for Benton County
- Benton City boat launch on Yakima RiverYakima River, City of Benton City, 1 ramp, concrete surface
- Duportail boat launch on Yakima RiverYakima River, WDFW, 1 ramp, unimproved surface surface, Discover Pass
- Hyde Road boat launch on Yakima RiverYakima River, WDFW, 1 ramp, gravel surface, Discover Pass
- Snively Road boat launch on Yakima RiverYakima River, WDFW, 1 ramp, gravel surface, Discover Pass
A Discover Pass is marked as required at 3 of the launches above.
Piers and bank access across Benton County (30)
- Lake Wallula on Columbia Rivershore fishing site, Dock fishing
- 14th Street on Kiona Canalaccess point (no launch)
- Columbia Park Pond #1shore fishing site, Over 1000 feet of shore fishing, open only to juveniles (14
- Columbia Park Pond #2shore fishing site, Fishing platform, open only to juveniles (14 and younger), s
- Horn Rapids on Yakima Riveraccess point (no launch)
- Lake Wallulashore fishing site, Dock fishing
- Lake Wallula fishing piershore fishing site, Dock fishing
- Lake Wallula fishing pier near Finley (north)shore fishing site, Dock fishing
- Lake Wallula fishing pier near Finley (south)shore fishing site, Dock fishing near boat ramp
- Lake Wallula fishing pier near Kennewick (east)shore fishing site, Dock fishing at boat ramp
- Lake Wallula fishing pier near Kennewick (west)shore fishing site, Dock fishing at boat ramp
- Lake Wallula fishing pier near Pascoshore fishing site, Dock fishing, shore fishing along dikes to the south
- Lake Wallula fishing pier near West Pasco (east)shore fishing site, Dock fishing, shore fishing
- Lake Wallula fishing pier near West Pasco (west), Benton Countyshore fishing site, Dock fishing, shore fishing
- Lake Wallula fishing pier near West Pasco (west), Benton Countyshore fishing site, Dock fishing, shore fishing
- Lake Wallula near Basin Cityshore fishing site, Shore fishing, turn south off 24 at Exit 63, drive approx. 6
- Lake Wallula near Richlandshore fishing site, Dock fishing
- Lake Wallula on Columbia Rivershore fishing site, Shore fishing at primitive boat launch
- Lake Wallula on Columbia Rivershore fishing site, Dock fishing at boat ramp
- Lake Wallula on Columbia Rivershore fishing site, Dock fishing
- Lake Wallula on Columbia River near Basin City (north)shore fishing site, Shore fishing, rough road 7 miles from Ringold
- Lake Wallula on Columbia River near Basin City (south)shore fishing site, Limited shore fishing, river levels will affect conditions
- Lake Wallula on Columbia River near Desert Aireshore fishing site, Shore fishing at primitive boat launch
- Lake Wallula on Columbia River near Richlandshore fishing site, Shore fishing at primitive boat launch
- Lake Wallula on P E Sixteen Point Four Wastewayshore fishing site, Limited shore fishing, river levels will affect conditions
- Lake Wallula shore accessshore fishing site, Shore fishing near boat ramp
- Lake Wallula shore access near Burbankshore fishing site, Shore fishing along bulkhead
- Lake Wallula shore access, Benton Countyshore fishing site, Shore fishing
- Mitchell Pond on Lake Wallulashore fishing site, Limited shore fishing off Ayers Road
- Whitstran on Chandler Canalaccess point (no launch)
WDFW Facilities layer (boat launches, piers, shore sites) and the State Parks boat launch layer; retrieved October 31, 2026. Lanes and per-launch fees are not published in these layers.
Regulations
Statewide freshwater rules across Benton County
The baseline for Benton County is the statewide freshwater table; named waters below set their own terms. Lake and river trips call for the Freshwater license: $39.95 if you live in Washington, $115.85 if you do not. A catch record card rides along with the license whenever salmon, steelhead, sturgeon or halibut are kept.
| Species | Limit | 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 |
| Tiger Muskellunge (Tiger Muskie) | Min. size 50". Daily limit 1. | Lakes, ponds, and reservoirs: year-round; rivers, streams and beaver ponds: Sat. before Memorial Day through Oct. 31 (p.23 general rule for |
| Whitefish | No min. size. Daily limit 15. | Lakes, ponds, and reservoirs: year-round; rivers, streams and beaver ponds: Sat. before Memorial Day through Oct. 31 (p.23 general rule for |
| Steelhead | Release all wild steelhead. Min. size 20". Daily limit 2. Open during salmon or game fish seasons unless as otherwise listed. | Open during salmon or game fish seasons unless as otherwise listed |
| Brown Trout, Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout, Golden Trout, Tiger Trout | In rivers, streams, and beaver ponds: Min. size 8". Daily limit 2. | Sat. before Memorial Day-Oct. 31 (statewide river season, p.23) |
Where Benton County breaks from the statewide tables (764)
| Water and reach | Species | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Amon Wasteway | All species | Selective gear rules. |
| Amon Wasteway | All game fish | Statewide min. size/daily limit. (Sat. before Memorial Day-Oct. 31) |
| Corral Creek | All species | Selective gear rules. |
| Corral Creek | All game fish | Statewide min. size/daily limit. (Sat. before Memorial Day-Oct. 31) |
| Snipes Creek | All species | Selective gear rules. |
| Snipes Creek | All game fish | Statewide min. size/daily limit. (Sat. before Memorial Day-Oct. 31) |
| Spring Creek | All species | Selective gear rules. |
| Spring Creek | All game fish | Statewide min. size/daily limit. (Sat. before Memorial Day-Oct. 31) |
| Yakima River: from mouth (Hwy. 240 Bridge) to 400’ downstream of Horn Rapids (Wanawish) Dam CRC (690) | All species | Chumming permitted. Barbless hooks required for steelhead. Two-Pole allowed. Columbia River Salmon and Steelhead Endorsement (CRSSE) required for salmon and steelhead fishing (ages 15 and older). |
| Yakima River: from mouth (Hwy. 240 Bridge) to 400’ downstream of Horn Rapids (Wanawish) Dam CRC (690) | Trout | Catch-and-release. (Mar. 1-Oct. 31) |
| Yakima River: from mouth (Hwy. 240 Bridge) to 400’ downstream of Horn Rapids (Wanawish) Dam CRC (690) | Other game fish | Statewide min. size/daily limit. (Mar. 1-Oct. 31) |
| Yakima River: from 400’ downstream of Horn Rapids (Wanawish) Dam to Horn Rapids Dam | All species | CLOSED WATERS. |
| Yakima River: from Horn Rapids Dam to 200’ downstream of the USBR Chandler Powerhouse CRC (690) | All species | Barbless hooks required for steelhead. Columbia River Salmon and Steelhead Endorsement (CRSSE) required for salmon and steelhead fishing (ages 15 and older). Chumming permitted. Two-Pole allowed. |
| Yakima River: from Horn Rapids Dam to 200’ downstream of the USBR Chandler Powerhouse CRC (690) | Trout | Catch-and-release. (Mar. 1-Oct. 31) |
| Yakima River: from Horn Rapids Dam to 200’ downstream of the USBR Chandler Powerhouse CRC (690) | Other game fish | Statewide min. size/daily limit. (Mar. 1-Oct. 31) |
| Yakima River: from 200’ downstream of the USBR Chandler Powerhouse to 200’ upstream of the USBR Chandler Powerhouse CRC (690) | All species | Two-Pole allowed. Barbless hooks required for steelhead. Columbia River Salmon and Steelhead Endorsement (CRSSE) required for salmon and steelhead fishing (ages 15 and older). Chumming permitted. |
| Yakima River: from 200’ downstream of the USBR Chandler Powerhouse to 200’ upstream of the USBR Chandler Powerhouse CRC (690) | All species | CLOSED WATERS. (Sept. 1-Oct. 31) |
| Yakima River: from 200’ downstream of the USBR Chandler Powerhouse to 200’ upstream of the USBR Chandler Powerhouse CRC (690) | Trout | Catch-and-release. (Mar. 1-Aug. 31) |
| Yakima River: from 200’ downstream of the USBR Chandler Powerhouse to 200’ upstream of the USBR Chandler Powerhouse CRC (690) | Other game fish | Statewide min. size/daily limit. (Mar. 1-Aug. 31) |
| Yakima River: from 200’ upstream of the USBR Chandler Powerhouse to the downstream side of the westbound I-82 Bridge at Prosser CRC (690) | All species | Barbless hooks required for steelhead. Columbia River Salmon and Steelhead Endorsement (CRSSE) required for salmon and steelhead fishing (ages 15 and older). Two-Pole allowed. Chumming permitted. |
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. Special Rules as printed in the 2026-2027 Washington Sport Fishing Rules (WDFW pamphlet, in effect July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027), pamphlet page 48 (pamphlet PDF), read on eRegulations October 31, 2026.
Records
Heaviest fish WDFW credits to Benton County
| Species | Weight | Angler | Water | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Largescale Sucker | 8.96 lbs | Kimo Gabriel | Columbia River | March 21, 2026 |
| Walleye | 20.32 lbs | John Grubenhoff | Lake Wallula | Feb. 28, 2014 |
| Mountain Whitefish | 5.13 lbs | Steven Becken | Columbia River | Nov. 30, 1983 |
| Smallmouth Bass | 8.75 lbs | Ray Wonacott | Columbia River | April 23, 1966 |
| Blue Catfish | 17.75 lbs | Rangle Hawthorne | Columbia River | July 9, 1975 |
| Flathead Catfish | 22.80 lbs | C. L. McCary | Snake River | June 28, 1981 |
| Northern Pikeminnow | 8.60 lbs | Bill Saunders | Snake River | April 16, 2026 |
| Peamouth | 1.48 lbs | Michael Lane | Columbia River | May 10, 2026 |
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) sport fish records list, as of October 31, 2026.
Local help
Benton County bait counters and charter skippers
Shop listings for Benton County
- Three Rivers Tacklebait and tackle shop, West Richland
- Columbia Park Marinamarina, Richland
- Dick's Sporting Goods Kennewicksporting goods store, Kennewick
- Sportsman's Warehouse Kennewicksporting goods store, Kennewick
Benton County skippers and river guides
- Angler's Edge Guide Servicecharter, Richland, (509) 430-5062
- Rivers West Sport Fishingcharter, West Richland, (509) 521-9431
Yellow Pages and chain store listings, guide and charter listings (city of business); retrieved October 31, 2026.
Nearby
Beyond the edge of Benton County
Overnight bases in Benton County
Counties beside Benton County
- Franklin County36 miles northeast
- Walla Walla County50 miles east
- Yakima County60 miles west
- Klickitat County65 miles west
Piscifun
A Piscifun spinning setup worth packing for Benton County
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Photos
The shoreline country around Benton County, in pictures
Photo: Steve Riddle, Public domain
Photo: brewbooks, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Bonnie Moreland, Public domain
Answers
What Washington anglers ask about Benton County
Which agencies run the launches in Benton County?
4 launches; 3 WDFW and 1 other agencies.
Which Benton County lake shows the most acres in the WDFW layer?
Lake Umatilla, at 48,738 surface acres in the WDFW layer.
What tops the species tally for Benton County water?
Largemouth bass lead the count of water pages within 50 miles, followed by yellow perch, pumpkinseed and black crappie.
Where in Benton County can an angler restock gear?
Three Rivers Tackle is one of 4 shops listed here.
Can visitors hire a fishing guide based in Benton County?
2 guides and charters run trips from a local city.
Which town has the Benton County courthouse?
Prosser, home of the courthouse.
Does fishing in Benton County need a saltwater license?
Lake and river trips call for the Freshwater license: $39.95 if you live in Washington, $115.85 if you do not.
Which counties touch the Benton County line?
The list above starts with Franklin County, Walla Walla County and Yakima County.
Which Benton County lakes or creeks have their own rule?
The 2026-27 pamphlet prints 764 Special Rule entries touching this county, starting with Amon Wasteway; the table above shows the first ones.
Does Benton County water hold a state record?
Largescale Sucker, 8.96 lbs, from Columbia River, Benton County (March 21, 2026).
When was Benton County water last planted?
7 WDFW plants so far in 2026, 12,333 fish; the latest went into Columbia Park Pond on April 16, 2026.
Work the lakes and creeks of Benton County
Each ramp opens with a directions link.