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For the salmon herePiscifun AlumiX spinning reel46% OFFSale $64.99 $119.99
Columbia River 123 mi
Photo: Bonnie Moreland, Public domain 
Banks Lake 44 mi
Photo: brewbooks, CC BY-SA 2.0 
Chelan 14 mi
Photo: JOHN LLOYD, CC BY 2.0 
Rufus Woods Lake 48 mi
Photo: Jan Helebrant, CC0 1.0
Washington counties
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Fishing in Douglas County, Washington
County seat: Waterville. Population 42,938.
- 12lake pages
- 16launches
- 1river pages
Pick for salmonPiscifun Viper X spinning reel50% OFFSale $39.99 Photo of Banks Lake: brewbooks, CC BY-SA 2.0
Douglas County, Washington
Douglas County from a Washington angler's seat
Census takers counted 42,938 people across Douglas County in 2020, and county government sits in Waterville. Stocking rows for the county carry the WDFW Region 2 label in the WDFW report. A neighbouring state holds part of Columbia River.
12 lakes here carry a full page, together 70,192 acres, the biggest being Banks Lake. WDFW distribution maps place salmon or steelhead runs in Columbia River. Boaters get 16 boat launches from the agency layers, managed by 6 WDFW and 10 State Parks. The WDFW layer shows 19 shore or access sites for fishing on foot; 2 are piers.
12lake pages
16boat launches
1river pages
1shops 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 Douglas 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 Douglas County earned their own guide
| Lake | Acres | Launches | WDFW program | Fish WDFW maps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Banks Lake | 26,888 | 12 | Mixed species – Warmwater emphasis | rainbow trout, kokanee, largemouth bass |
| Wanapum Lake | 14,362 | 5 | NHD-mapped lake | |
| Lake Entiat | 8,829 | 11 | Mixed species – Trout emphasis | rainbow trout, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass |
| Lake Pateros | 8,099 | 1 | Mixed species – Trout emphasis | rainbow trout, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass |
| Rufus Woods Lake | 8,022 | 2 | Mixed species – Trout emphasis | rainbow trout, brown trout, kokanee |
| Rock Island Pool | 3,281 | 1 | NHD-mapped lake | |
| Jameson Lake | 457 | 1 | Trout emphasis | rainbow trout |
| Grimes Lake | 187 | 1 | Trout emphasis | |
| Hammond Lake | 41 | 0 | Mixed species – Warmwater emphasis | rainbow trout, largemouth bass, yellow perch |
| Big Bow Lake | 13 | 0 | Mixed species – Trout emphasis | rainbow trout, largemouth bass, brown bullhead |
| Putters Lake | 7 | 0 | Mixed species – Trout emphasis | rainbow trout, largemouth bass, pumpkinseed |
| Hideaway Lake | 6 | 0 | Warmwater emphasis | largemouth bass, brown bullhead, pumpkinseed |
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 Douglas County
Across water pages within 50 miles of Waterville, rainbow trout 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 Douglas County
A further 1 lake in Douglas County are mapped but thin on facts.
| Water | Acres | WDFW program | Nearest town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pit Lake | 3 | Mixed species – Trout emphasis | Rock Island |
WDFW Fish Washington lowland and high lake layers and USGS NHD lake outlines, retrieved October 31, 2026.
Rivers
Streams to drift or wade in Douglas County
- Columbia RiverSWIFD lists chinook, chum and coho, 8 WDFW shore or access sites, 6 USGS gauges, 728 mi in Washington
River gauges of Douglas County
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Rock Island Pp Tw Unit 1 Near Wenatchee, Wa | 567.62 ft gage height | Oct 15 5:15 pm Not updated since Oct 15, 2026. |
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 Douglas County
In 2026, 16 WDFW plants put 45,731 trout into 5 waters inside Douglas County.
- Putters LakeRainbow, 3,240 fish at 2.5 per pound, October 2, 2026, Chelan Pud Hatchery
- Putters LakeRainbow, 1,890 fish at 2.7 per pound, October 2, 2026, Chelan Pud Hatchery
- Putters LakeRainbow, 7,250 fish at 2.5 per pound, September 29, 2026, Chelan Pud Hatchery
- Pit LakeRainbow, 2,500 fish at 2.5 per pound, April 15, 2026, Chelan Pud Hatchery
- Pit LakeRainbow, 200 fish at 1 per pound, April 15, 2026, Chelan Pud Hatchery
- Jameson LakeRainbow, 3,070 fish at 2.5 per pound, March 23, 2026, Chelan Pud Hatchery
- Jameson LakeRainbow, 400 fish at 1 per pound, March 23, 2026, Chelan Pud Hatchery
- Jameson LakeRainbow, 3,430 fish at 2.45 per pound, March 20, 2026, Chelan Pud Hatchery
- Putters LakeRainbow, 450 fish at 1 per pound, March 19, 2026, Chelan Pud Hatchery
- Big Bow LakeRainbow, 3,675 fish at 2.45 per pound, March 19, 2026, Chelan Pud Hatchery
- Big Bow LakeRainbow, 5,000 fish at 2.6 per pound, March 18, 2026, Chelan Pud Hatchery
- Hammond LakeRainbow, 2,040 fish at 2.6 per pound, March 6, 2026, Chelan Pud 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 Douglas County
- Ankeny (north) boat launch on Banks LakeBanks Lake, WDFW, 1 ramp, gravel surface, Discover Pass
- Ankeny (south) boat launch on Banks LakeBanks Lake, WDFW, 1 ramp, unimproved surface surface, Discover Pass
- Barker Canyon boat launch on Banks LakeBanks Lake, WDFW, 1 ramp, concrete surface, Discover Pass
- Bridgeport Bar boat launch on Lake PaterosLake Pateros, WDFW, 1 ramp, concrete surface, Discover Pass
- Daroga boat launch on Lake EntiatLake Entiat, State Parks, Discover Pass
- Jameson Lake boat launchJameson Lake, WDFW, 2 ramps, concrete, gravel surface, 2 hand launches, Discover Pass
- Lincoln Rock boat launch on Lake EntiatLake Entiat, State Parks, Discover Pass
- Lincoln Rock launch on Lake EntiatLake Entiat, State Parks, Discover Pass
- Daroga boat launch on Lake EntiatLake Entiat, State Parks, Discover Pass
- Grimes Lake boat launchGrimes Lake, WDFW, 1 hand launch, Discover Pass
- Lincoln Rock boat launch on Lake EntiatLake Entiat, State Parks, Discover Pass
- Lincoln Rock boat launch on Lake EntiatLake Entiat, State Parks, Discover Pass
- Lincoln Rock boat launch on Lake EntiatLake Entiat, State Parks, Discover Pass
- Lincoln Rock boat launch on Lake EntiatLake Entiat, State Parks, Discover Pass
- Lincoln Rock launch on Lake EntiatLake Entiat, State Parks, Discover Pass
- Lincoln Rock launch on Lake EntiatLake Entiat, State Parks, Discover Pass
A Discover Pass is marked as required at 16 of the launches above.
Piers and bank access across Douglas County (19)
- Big Bow lake shore accessshore fishing site, Off-highway parking with 200+ feet of shore fishing area
- Big Bow lake shore access near Rock Islandshore fishing site, Small parking area with 2-3 shore fishing areas
- Grimes Lake shore accessshore fishing site, Limited shore fishing area at parking lot, must hike to shor
- Hammond Lake shore accessshore fishing site, 3-4 shore fishing areas
- Hammond Lake shore access near Rock Islandshore fishing site, 3-4 shore fishing areas
- Hideaway Lake shore accessshore fishing site, 2 shore fishing areas
- Jameson Lake shore accessshore fishing site, Shore fishing area along road
- Jameson Lake shore accessshore fishing site, Expansive roadside shore fishing area
- Jameson Lake shore access near Mansfield (north)shore fishing site, 300+ meters of shore fishing area
- Jameson Lake shore access near Mansfield (south), Douglas Countyshore fishing site, 200 feet of shore fishing area
- Jameson Lake shore access near Mansfield (south), Douglas Countyshore fishing site, Expansive roadside shore fishing area
- Lake Pateros fishing piershore fishing site, Expansive trail with shore fishing throughout, docks availab
- Lake Pateros fishing pier near Brewstershore fishing site, 400+ meters of shore fishing, docks available
- Lake Pateros shore accessshore fishing site, 400+ feet of scattered shore fishing
- Lake Pateros shore access near Bridgeport (east)shore fishing site, 300+ meters of shore fishing
- Lake Pateros shore access near Bridgeport (west)shore fishing site, 300+ meters of shore fishing
- Pit Lake on Putters Lakeshore fishing site, Trail along 2 sides of pond, 400+ feet of shorefishing area,
- Putters Pond shore accessshore fishing site, 400+ feet of shore fishing area
- Putters Pond shore accessshore fishing site, 600+ feet of intermittant shore fishing
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 Douglas County
The baseline for Douglas 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 Douglas County breaks from the statewide tables (641)
| Water and reach | Species | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Banks Lake | All species | Chumming permitted. |
| Banks Lake | Crappie | Min. size 9". Daily limit 10. (Year-round) |
| Banks Lake | Yellow perch | No min. size. Daily limit 25. (Year-round) |
| Banks Lake | Other game fish | Statewide min. size/daily limit. (Year-round) |
| Grimes Lake | All species | Selective gear rules. Internal combustion motors prohibited. |
| Grimes Lake | Trout | Min. size 18". Daily limit 1. (June 1-Aug. 31) |
| Grimes Lake | Other game fish | Statewide min. size/daily limit. (June 1-Aug. 31) |
| Jameson Lake | All game fish | Statewide min. size/daily limit. (4th Sat. in Apr.-Oct. 31) |
| Rufus Woods Lake: from Chief Joseph Dam upstream to State Route 155 Bridge | All species | Douglas County shore (State license), on the water (either State or Tribal License accepted), Reservation (Tribal permit required or either license accepted at a signed "Designated Fishing Areas" (DFA) located and marked as such on the Colville Reservation shoreline). |
| Rufus Woods Lake: from Chief Joseph Dam upstream to State Route 155 Bridge | Trout | Daily limit 2. (Year-round) |
| Rufus Woods Lake: from Chief Joseph Dam upstream to State Route 155 Bridge | Other game fish | Statewide min. size/daily limit. (Year-round) |
| Rufus Woods Lake: from Chief Joseph Dam upstream to State Route 155 Bridge | Sturgeon | Closed. (Year-round) |
| Rufus Woods Lake: from State Route 155 Bridge upstream to Grand Coulee Dam | All species | CLOSED WATERS. |
| Columbia River: North Jetty CRC (1) | All species | A saltwater or combination license is required to fish the north jetty. |
| Columbia River: North Jetty CRC (1) | Trout | Catch-and-release. (Year-round) |
| Columbia River: North Jetty CRC (1) | Other game fish | Statewide min. size/daily limit. (Year-round) |
| Columbia River: North Jetty CRC (1) | Salmon and hatchery steelhead | Fishing for salmon and steelhead is open 7 days a week when Marine Area 1 or Buoy 10 areas are open for salmon. The daily limit and minimum size restrictions follow the most liberal regulations of either of these areas. Single-point barbless hooks required for salmon and steelhea |
| Columbia River: North Jetty CRC (1) | Sturgeon | Night closure. Catch-and-release. (Year-round) |
| Columbia River: North Jetty CRC (1) | Tuna and mackerel | No min. size. No daily limit. Except northern bluefin, skipjack, and yellowfin tuna; daily limit of 2 each. (Year-round) |
| Columbia River: North Jetty CRC (1) | Herring, smelt, and sandlance | No min. size. Daily limit 10 lbs., all species combined. All smelt caught must be kept and count toward the daily limit except CLOSED to eulachon (Columbia River smelt). (Year-round) |
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 92 (pamphlet PDF), read on eRegulations October 31, 2026.
Records
Heaviest fish WDFW credits to Douglas County
| Species | Weight | Angler | Water | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smallmouth Bass | 8.75 lbs | Ray Wonacott | Columbia River | April 23, 1966 |
| Blue Catfish | 17.75 lbs | Rangle Hawthorne | Columbia River | July 9, 1975 |
| Peamouth | 1.48 lbs | Michael Lane | Columbia River | May 10, 2026 |
| Rainbow Trout, resident (including triploid) | 29.60 lbs | Norm Butler | Rufus Woods Lake | Nov. 11, 2002 |
| American Shad | 3.85 lbs | Tom Magnuson | Columbia River | June 21, 2005 |
| Largescale Sucker | 8.96 lbs | Kimo Gabriel | Columbia River | March 21, 2026 |
| Mountain Whitefish | 5.13 lbs | Steven Becken | Columbia River | Nov. 30, 1983 |
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) sport fish records list, as of October 31, 2026.
Local help
Douglas County bait counters and charter skippers
Shop listings for Douglas County
- Sportsman's Warehouse East Wenatcheesporting goods store, East Wenatchee
Yellow Pages and chain store listings, guide and charter listings (city of business); retrieved October 31, 2026.
Nearby
Beyond the edge of Douglas County
Overnight bases in Douglas County
- East Wenatcheepop. 14,158
- Bridgeportpop. 2,141
- Rock Islandpop. 1,279
- Watervillepop. 1,134
Counties beside Douglas County
- Grant County38 miles south
- Chelan County44 miles west
- Okanogan County56 miles north
- Lincoln County60 miles east
Piscifun
A Piscifun spinning setup worth packing for Douglas County
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Photos
The shoreline country around Douglas County, in pictures
Photo: Bonnie Moreland, Public domain
Photo: brewbooks, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: JOHN LLOYD, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Jan Helebrant, CC0 1.0
Answers
What Washington anglers ask about Douglas County
Which agencies run the launches in Douglas County?
16 launches; 6 WDFW and 10 State Parks.
Which Douglas County lake shows the most acres in the WDFW layer?
Banks Lake, at 26,888 surface acres in the WDFW layer.
What tops the species tally for Douglas County water?
Rainbow trout lead the count of water pages within 50 miles, followed by largemouth bass, bluegill and pumpkinseed.
Where in Douglas County can an angler restock gear?
Sportsman's Warehouse East Wenatchee is one of 1 shop listed here.
Can visitors hire a fishing guide based in Douglas County?
No skipper gives a city in the county.
Which town has the Douglas County courthouse?
Waterville, home of the courthouse.
Does fishing in Douglas 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 Douglas County line?
The list above starts with Grant County, Chelan County and Okanogan County.
Which Douglas County lakes or creeks have their own rule?
The 2026-27 pamphlet prints 641 Special Rule entries touching this county, starting with Banks Lake; the table above shows the first ones.
Does Douglas County water hold a state record?
Smallmouth Bass, 8.75 lbs, from Columbia River, Hanford Reach (April 23, 1966).
When was Douglas County water last planted?
16 WDFW plants so far in 2026, 45,731 fish; the latest went into Putters Pond on Oct. 2, 2026.
Work the lakes and creeks of Douglas County
Each ramp opens with a directions link.