Brown Trout in Washington
Keeping rules, the WDFW record and lakes or rivers for brown trout.
- 2 dailylimit
- 22.00 lbsrecord
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brown trout under WDFW rules
The statewide freshwater species table names brown trout under "Brown Trout, Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout, Golden Trout, Tiger Trout, and Grayling". The pamphlet wording is: In rivers, streams, and beaver ponds: Min. size 8". Daily limit 2.
In 1965, R. L. Henry set the state mark of 22.00 lbs at Sullivan Lake, Pend Oreille County. 71 waters carry it, Lake Roosevelt, Riffe Lake and Box Canyon Reservoir included. Special Rules mention it on 311 waters. The 2026 trout plants report holds 17 plants. The record list pairs it with Salmo trutta.
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| Pamphlet row | Waters | Limit as printed | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brown Trout, Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout, Golden Trout, Tiger Trout, and Gray | rivers, streams, and beaver ponds | In rivers, streams, and beaver ponds: Min. size 8". Daily limit 2. | Sat. before Memorial Day-Oct. 31 (statewide river season, p.23) |
| Brown Trout, Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout, Golden Trout, Tiger Trout, and Gray | lakes, ponds, and reservoirs | In lakes, ponds, and reservoirs: No min. size. Daily limit 5. | Year-round (statewide lake season, p.23) |
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.
Marine areas naming brown trout
- Marine Area 1marine area 1
- Marine Area 2, Marine Area 2-1, Marine Area 2-2marine area 2
- Marine Area 3marine area 3
- Marine Area 4marine area 4
- Marine Area 5marine area 5
- Marine Area 6marine area 6
- Marine Area 7marine area 7
- Marine Area 8-1, Marine Area 8-2marine area 8
- Marine Area 9marine area 9
- Marine Area 10marine area 10
- Marine Area 11marine area 11
- Marine Area 12marine area 12
- Marine Area 13marine area 13
Printed in the 2026-2027 Washington Sport Fishing Rules (WDFW pamphlet, in effect July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027), as posted on eRegulations; read October 31, 2026.
Where Special Rules change the brown trout line
On 311 waters a Special Rule replaces or adds to the statewide line, printed as "other trout" and "trout".
State record brown trout, Washington
| Listing | Weight | Angler | Water | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brown Trout | 22.00 lbs | R. L. Henry | Sullivan Lake, Pend Oreille County | May 22, 1965 |
WDFW sport fish records, read October 31, 2026; record list.
brown trout from WDFW hatcheries, 2026
| Water | Plant as printed | County |
|---|---|---|
| AENEAS Lake | Brown Trout, 930 fish at 2.5 per pound, September 17, 2026, Chelan Hatchery | Okanogan County |
| BLUE Lake T37 | Brown Trout, 500 fish at 2.5 per pound, September 17, 2026, Chelan Hatchery | Okanogan County |
| LEADER Lake | Brown Trout, 2,500 fish at 2.5 per pound, September 16, 2026, Chelan Hatchery | Okanogan County |
| PATTERSON Lake | Brown Trout, 2,150 fish at 2.5 per pound, September 16, 2026, Chelan Hatchery | Okanogan County |
| RAT Lake | Brown Trout, 1,500 fish at 2.5 per pound, September 15, 2026, Chelan Hatchery | Okanogan County |
| ANTILON Lake – NORTH | Brown Trout, 850 fish at 2.5 per pound, September 14, 2026, Chelan Hatchery | Chelan County |
| ANTILON Lake – SOUTH | Brown Trout, 2,000 fish at 2.5 per pound, September 14, 2026, Chelan Hatchery | Chelan County |
| DRY Lake | Brown Trout, 1,000 fish at 2.5 per pound, September 14, 2026, Chelan Hatchery | Chelan County |
| ROSES Lake | Brown Trout, 2,000 fish at 2.5 per pound, September 14, 2026, Chelan Hatchery | Chelan County |
| MINERAL Lake | Brown Trout, 1,688 fish at 2.5 per pound, July 14, 2026, Mossyrock Hatchery | Lewis County |
| MINERAL Lake | Brown Trout, 3,500 fish at 2.5 per pound, July 8, 2026, Mossyrock Hatchery | Lewis County |
| CHAMBERS Lake | Brown Trout, 1,000 fish at 2.6 per pound, June 10, 2026, Mossyrock Hatchery | Lewis County |
| KNUPPENBURG Lake | Brown Trout, 780 fish at 2.6 per pound, June 2, 2026, Mossyrock Hatchery | Lewis County |
| KRESS Lake | Brown Trout, 2,700 fish at 2.7 per pound, May 6, 2026, Mossyrock Hatchery | Cowlitz County |
| Lake SACAJAWEA | Brown Trout, 2,700 fish at 2.7 per pound, May 6, 2026, Mossyrock Hatchery | Cowlitz County |
| HORSESHOE Lake | Brown Trout, 3,240 fish at 2.7 per pound, May 5, 2026, Mossyrock Hatchery | Cowlitz County |
| MINERAL Lake | Brown Trout, 5,800 fish at 2.9 per pound, April 19, 2026, Mossyrock Hatchery | Lewis County |
WDFW Trout Plants report (rows January 2 to October 27, 2026), read October 31, 2026.
Where brown trout turn up in Washington
Still water holding brown trout
- Lake Roosevelt83,988 acres
- Riffe Lake11,326 acres
- Box Canyon Reservoir9,317 acres
- Rufus Woods Lake8,022 acres
- Lake Spokane4,748 acres
- Cle Elum Lake4,566 acres
- Rock Lake2,190 acres
- Boundary Reservoir1,579 acres
- Sullivan Lake1,283 acres
- Diamond Lake754 acres
- Liberty Lake706 acres
- Eloika Lake629 acres
- Fish Lake (Chelan County)492 acres
- Waitts Lake470 acres
- Silver Lake (Spokane County)418 acres
- Clear Lake (Spokane County)316 acres
- Spectacle Lake (Okanogan County)314 acres
- Merrill Lake283 acres
- Mineral Lake275 acres
- Lacamas Lake250 acres
- Green Lake (King County)250 acres
- St. Clair Lake233 acres
- Swofford Pond216 acres
- West Medical Lake206 acres
Moving water holding brown trout
- Yakima RiverKittitas County
- Snake RiverWhitman County
- Columbia RiverStevens County
- Spokane RiverStevens County
- Touchet RiverWalla Walla County
- Tucannon RiverColumbia County
WDFW Fish Washington and high lake layer species lists, WDFW SWIFD distribution, record waters and 2026 trout plants; largest waters first.
Fish filed near brown trout
- Atlantic Salmonfreshwater
- Bull Troutfreshwater
- Chinook Salmonfreshwater
- Chum Salmonfreshwater
- Coho Salmonfreshwater
- Coastal Cutthroat Troutfreshwater
- Lahontan Cutthroat Troutfreshwater
- Westslope Cutthroat Troutfreshwater
- Dolly Vardenfreshwater
- Brook Troutfreshwater
- Golden Troutfreshwater
- Lake Troutfreshwater
Fir, basalt and open water near Brown Trout, photographed
Photo: Jett Brooks, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Richard Probst – Shot in a Frame, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Chris Ballance, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Jonathan Miske, CC BY-SA 2.0
Where brown trout turn up in Washington, briefly
What is the Washington limit for brown trout?
As printed: In rivers, streams, and beaver ponds: Min. size 8". Daily limit 2.
What does the Washington brown trout record weigh?
22.00 lbs, Sullivan Lake, Pend Oreille County; R. L. Henry, 1965.
Which lakes or rivers list brown trout?
71 pages, beginning with Lake Roosevelt, Riffe Lake and Box Canyon Reservoir.
Where has WDFW planted brown trout?
Yes, with 17 plants; see AENEAS Lake.
Does any water have a Special Rule for brown trout?
Yes; Special Rules name it on 311 waters.
How does the Washington brown trout season run?
WDFW gives: Sat. before Memorial Day-Oct. 31 (statewide river season, p.23). Emergency changes come first.
Which Washington license covers brown trout?
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.
How do I claim a Washington brown trout record?
Fill in the WDFW record application, weigh the fish fresh on a certified scale and bring it to a WDFW office.