Lake Whitefish in Washington
WDFW limits, the state record and Washington water for lake whitefish.
- 15 dailylimit
- 7.86 lbsrecord
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Washington lake whitefish in brief
In the 2026-27 WDFW pamphlet, lake whitefish come under the statewide freshwater line "Whitefish". The rule text says: No min. size. Daily limit 15.
Washington's heaviest on the WDFW list: 7.86 lbs, Lake Roosevelt, Grant County, 2023, angler Gavin Boggs. Of the 1 Washington pages that mention it, start with Lake Roosevelt. It appears in Special Rules for 12 waters. Biologists call it Coregonus clupeaformis.
WDFW size and daily limits for lake whitefish
| Pamphlet row | Waters | Limit as printed | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whitefish | all freshwater | 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 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.
Special Rules that name lake whitefish
12 waters carry a water-specific line for it ("whitefish").
lake whitefish in the WDFW record book
| Listing | Weight | Angler | Water | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Whitefish | 7.86 lbs | Gavin Boggs | Lake Roosevelt, Grant County | Feb. 11, 2023 |
WDFW sport fish records, read October 31, 2026; record list.
Finding lake whitefish across Washington
Lowland and mountain lakes for lake whitefish
- Lake Roosevelt83,988 acres
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 More Washington fish beside lake whitefish
- Mountain Whitefishfreshwater
A camera walk along the water near Lake Whitefish
Photo: Jeff Gunn, CC BY 2.0
Photo: brewbooks, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Cody Logan, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0
Washington answers about lake whitefish
How many lake whitefish can go home from a Washington trip?
The 2026-27 line reads: No min. size. Daily limit 15.
Is there a WDFW record for lake whitefish?
Gavin Boggs caught it at Lake Roosevelt, Grant County in 2023: 7.86 lbs.
Which Washington waters hold lake whitefish?
Try Lake Roosevelt; 1 pages carry it.
Are lake whitefish stocked in Washington?
It is not among the 2026 WDFW plants.
Do some Washington lakes carry their own lake whitefish numbers?
Special Rules cover it on 12 waters.
What dates apply to Washington lake whitefish?
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 lake whitefish?
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 lake whitefish 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.
Go after Washington lake whitefish
Open a water above for ramps and rules.