Burbot in Washington
WDFW limits, the state record and Washington water for burbot.
- 5 dailylimit
- 17.37 lbsrecord
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Washington burbot in brief
In the 2026-27 WDFW pamphlet, burbot come under the statewide freshwater line "Burbot (Freshwater Ling)". The rule text says: No min. size. Daily limit 5.
Washington's heaviest on the WDFW list: 17.37 lbs, Bead Lake, Pend Oreille County, 2004, angler Mike Campbell. Of the 13 Washington pages that mention it, start with Bead Lake, Yakima River and Okanogan River. Biologists call it Lota lota.
WDFW size and daily limits for burbot
| Pamphlet row | Waters | Limit as printed | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burbot (Freshwater Ling) | all freshwater | 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 game fish) |
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.
burbot in the WDFW record book
| Listing | Weight | Angler | Water | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burbot | 17.37 lbs | Mike Campbell | Bead Lake, Pend Oreille County | April 24, 2004 |
WDFW sport fish records, read October 31, 2026; record list.
Finding burbot across Washington
Lowland and mountain lakes for burbot
- Bead Lake718 acres
Rivers worth a drift for burbot
- Yakima RiverKittitas County
- Okanogan RiverOkanogan County
- Pend Oreille RiverPend Oreille County
- Similkameen River (Okanogan County)Okanogan County
- Chelan RiverChelan County
- Cle Elum RiverKittitas County
- Columbia RiverStevens County
- Cooper RiverKittitas County
- Kachess RiverKittitas County
- Spokane RiverStevens County
- Stehekin RiverChelan 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.
For the trout herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 A camera walk along the water near Burbot
Photo: JOHN LLOYD, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Pacific Fishery Management Council, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Jonathan Miske, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: U.S. Forest Service- Pacific Northwest Region, Public domain
Washington answers about burbot
How many burbot can go home from a Washington trip?
The 2026-27 line reads: No min. size. Daily limit 5.
Is there a WDFW record for burbot?
Mike Campbell caught it at Bead Lake, Pend Oreille County in 2004: 17.37 lbs.
Which Washington waters hold burbot?
Try Bead Lake, Yakima River and Okanogan River; 13 pages carry it.
Are burbot stocked in Washington?
It is not among the 2026 WDFW plants.
Do some Washington lakes carry their own burbot numbers?
No lake or river changes its rule.
What dates apply to Washington burbot?
Read the season as Lakes, ponds, and reservoirs: year-round; rivers, streams and beaver ponds: Sat. before Memorial Day through Oct. 31 (p.23 general rule for game fish). In-season emergency rules take priority.
Do nonresidents need a license for Washington burbot?
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 is a burbot record certified in Washington?
The WDFW Sport Fish Record Coordinator; the fish must be weighed on a certified scale, not frozen, and seen at a WDFW office.