Largemouth Bass in Washington
Keeping rules, the WDFW record and lakes or rivers for largemouth bass.
- 5 dailylimit
- 12.53 lbsrecord
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largemouth bass under WDFW rules
The statewide freshwater species table names largemouth bass under "Largemouth Bass". The pamphlet wording is: 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.
In 2016, Bill Evans set the state mark of 12.53 lbs at Lake Bosworth, Snohomish County. 310 waters carry it, Lake Roosevelt, Lake Umatilla and Lake Chelan included. Special Rules mention it on 75 waters. The record list pairs it with Micropterus salmoides.
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| Pamphlet row | Waters | Limit as printed | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | lakes, ponds, and reservoirs | 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 | rivers, streams, and beaver ponds | 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 |
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.
Where Special Rules change the largemouth bass line
On 75 waters a Special Rule replaces or adds to the statewide line, printed as "bass, channel catfish, and walleye" and "largemouth bass".
State record largemouth bass, Washington
| Listing | Weight | Angler | Water | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | 12.53 lbs | Bill Evans | Lake Bosworth, Snohomish County | Aug. 8, 2016 |
WDFW sport fish records, read October 31, 2026; record list.
Where largemouth bass turn up in Washington
Still water holding largemouth bass
- Lake Roosevelt83,988 acres
- Lake Umatilla48,738 acres
- Lake Chelan32,623 acres
- Banks Lake26,888 acres
- Lake Wallula26,274 acres
- Lake Washington21,934 acres
- Potholes Reservoir14,282 acres
- Box Canyon Reservoir9,317 acres
- Lake Entiat8,829 acres
- Lake Pateros8,099 acres
- Ozette Lake7,437 acres
- Moses Lake6,728 acres
- Lake Whatcom4,924 acres
- Lake Sammamish4,853 acres
- Lake Spokane4,748 acres
- Alder Lake2,877 acres
- Lake Tapps2,433 acres
- Vancouver Lake2,287 acres
- Rock Lake2,190 acres
- Palmer Lake2,032 acres
- Mayfield Lake2,022 acres
- Sprague Lake1,760 acres
- Boundary Reservoir1,579 acres
- Silver Lake (Cowlitz County)1,424 acres
Moving water holding largemouth bass
- Yakima RiverKittitas County
- Kalama RiverCowlitz County
- Chehalis RiverLewis County
- Klickitat RiverKlickitat County
- Black RiverThurston County
- Okanogan RiverOkanogan County
- Cowlitz RiverLewis County
- Lewis RiverSkamania County
- Wishkah RiverGrays Harbor County
- Deep RiverWahkiakum County
- Grays RiverPacific County
- Kettle RiverFerry County
- Pend Oreille RiverPend Oreille County
- Sammamish RiverKing County
- Similkameen River (Okanogan County)Okanogan County
- Snake RiverWhitman County
- Washougal RiverSkamania County
- Chelan RiverChelan 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 largemouth bass
- Smallmouth Bassfreshwater
- Rock Bassfreshwater
Fir, basalt and open water near Largemouth Bass, photographed
Photo: Bernd Thaller, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Sheila Sund, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Pacific Fishery Management Council, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0
Where largemouth bass turn up in Washington, briefly
What is the Washington limit for largemouth bass?
As printed: 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.
What does the Washington largemouth bass record weigh?
12.53 lbs, Lake Bosworth, Snohomish County; Bill Evans, 2016.
Which lakes or rivers list largemouth bass?
310 pages, beginning with Lake Roosevelt, Lake Umatilla and Lake Chelan.
Where has WDFW planted largemouth bass?
The plants report carries no row for it.
Does any water have a Special Rule for largemouth bass?
Yes; Special Rules name it on 75 waters.
How does the Washington largemouth bass season run?
WDFW gives: Lakes, ponds, and reservoirs: year-round; rivers, streams and beaver ponds: Sat. before Memorial Day through Oct. 31. Emergency changes come first.
Which Washington license covers largemouth bass?
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 largemouth bass record?
Fill in the WDFW record application, weigh the fish fresh on a certified scale and bring it to a WDFW office.
Plan a largemouth bass outing
Choose a lake, river or marine area above.