Rainbow Trout in Washington
Washington rainbow trout: what may be kept and where to look.
- 2 dailylimit
- 29.60 lbsrecord
Pick for rainbow troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo of the fish itself, not a Washington water: Jonathunder, CC BY-SA 3.0
Washington rainbow trout: rule, record, water
For the 2026-27 season, Washington files rainbow trout in the freshwater row "Brown Trout, Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout, Golden Trout, Tiger Trout, and Grayling". As printed, it reads: In rivers, streams, and beaver ponds: Min. size 8". Daily limit 2.
Norm Butler holds the Washington record at 29.60 lbs, from Rufus Woods Lake, Okanogan County, 2002. Lake Roosevelt, Lake Chelan and Banks Lake head the 629 Washington pages naming it. Water-specific rules cover it on 313 waters. The plants report shows 1,001 plants so far in 2026. Scientific name, as WDFW gives it: Oncorhynchus mykiss.
For the rainbow trout herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 How many rainbow trout a Washington angler may keep
| 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 area chapters covering rainbow 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.
Water-specific rainbow trout rules
The pamphlet's Special Rules mention it on 313 waters, under labels such as "other trout", "rainbow trout" and "trout".
What this rainbow trout page covers
- Rainbow Trout, resident (including triploid)WDFW listing
WDFW species listings, grouped on one page here.
Heaviest rainbow trout on the WDFW list
| Listing | Weight | Angler | Water | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rainbow Trout, resident (including triploid) | 29.60 lbs | Norm Butler | Rufus Woods Lake, Okanogan County | Nov. 11, 2002 |
WDFW sport fish records, read October 31, 2026; record list.
WDFW plants of rainbow trout in 2026
| Water | Plant as printed | County |
|---|---|---|
| BATTLE GROUND Lake | Rainbow, 1,080 fish at 2.6 per pound, October 27, 2026, Vancouver Hatchery | Clark County |
| LACAMAS Lake | Rainbow, 4,000 fish at 2.6 per pound, October 27, 2026, Vancouver Hatchery | Clark County |
| BATTLE GROUND Lake | Rainbow, 1,000 fish at 2.6 per pound, October 26, 2026, Vancouver Hatchery | Clark County |
| KLINELINE Pond | Rainbow, 2,000 fish at 2.6 per pound, October 26, 2026, Vancouver Hatchery | Clark County |
| SARGE HUBBARD Pond | Rainbow, 11 fish at 0.1 per pound, October 22, 2026, Goldendale Hatchery | Yakima County |
| SARGE HUBBARD Pond | Rainbow, 49 fish at 0.2 per pound, October 22, 2026, Goldendale Hatchery | Yakima County |
| TIMS Pond | Rainbow, 49 fish at 0.2 per pound, October 22, 2026, Goldendale Hatchery | Yakima County |
| TIMS Pond | Rainbow, 11 fish at 0.1 per pound, October 22, 2026, Goldendale Hatchery | Yakima County |
| BEAVER Lakes T24 | Rainbow, 1,250 fish at 0.47 per pound, October 19, 2026, Issaquah Hatchery | King County |
| BLACKMANS Lake | Rainbow, 450 fish at 0.6 per pound, October 15, 2026, Tokul Cr Hatchery | Snohomish County |
| Lake DESIRE | Rainbow, 905 fish at 0.6 per pound, October 15, 2026, Tokul Cr Hatchery | King County |
| BLACKMANS Lake | Rainbow, 450 fish at 0.6 per pound, October 14, 2026, Tokul Cr Hatchery | Snohomish County |
| Lake ALICE | Rainbow, 540 fish at 0.6 per pound, October 14, 2026, Tokul Cr Hatchery | King County |
| GREEN Lake | Rainbow, 1,632 fish at 0.85 per pound, October 13, 2026, Whitehorse Pond | King County |
| HATCH Lake | Rainbow, 834 fish at 0.65 per pound, October 12, 2026, Ford Hatchery | Stevens County |
| ROSES Lake | Rainbow, 22,630 fish at 2.75 per pound, October 12, 2026, Chelan Pud Hatchery | Chelan County |
| WILLIAMS Lake | Rainbow, 1,000 fish at 0.65 per pound, October 12, 2026, Ford Hatchery | Stevens County |
| BALLINGER Lake | Rainbow, 1,275 fish at 0.85 per pound, October 7, 2026, Whitehorse Pond | Snohomish County |
| HOG Lake | Rainbow, 1,600 fish at 0.65 per pound, October 7, 2026, Ford Hatchery | Spokane County |
| SILVER Lake T28 | Rainbow, 1,275 fish at 0.85 per pound, October 7, 2026, Whitehorse Pond | Snohomish County |
| West MEDICAL Lake | Rainbow, 500 fish at 0.64 per pound, October 7, 2026, Ford Hatchery | Spokane County |
| Lake CHELAN @ D MORSE PRK | Rainbow, 3,360 fish at 2.8 per pound, October 6, 2026, Chelan Pud Hatchery | Chelan County |
| NAHWATZEL Lake | Rainbow, 500 fish at 0.8 per pound, October 6, 2026, Satsop Springs Ponds | Mason County |
| FISH Lake | Rainbow, 7,000 fish at 2.8 per pound, October 5, 2026, Chelan Pud Hatchery | Chelan County |
| KITSAP Lake | Rainbow, 1,900 fish at 0.93 per pound, October 2, 2026, George Adams Hatchery | Kitsap County |
| PUTTERS Pond | Rainbow, 3,240 fish at 2.5 per pound, October 2, 2026, Chelan Pud Hatchery | Douglas County |
| PUTTERS Pond | Rainbow, 1,890 fish at 2.7 per pound, October 2, 2026, Chelan Pud Hatchery | Douglas County |
| KITSAP Lake | Rainbow, 2,103 fish at 1 per pound, September 30, 2026, George Adams Hatchery | Kitsap County |
| NAHWATZEL Lake | Rainbow, 500 fish at 0.8 per pound, September 30, 2026, Satsop Springs Ponds | Mason County |
| CADY Lake | Rainbow, 300 fish at 0.8 per pound, September 29, 2026, Eells Springs | Mason County |
WDFW Trout Plants report (rows January 2 to October 27, 2026), read October 31, 2026.
Washington water that holds rainbow trout
Lakes where WDFW notes rainbow trout
- Lake Roosevelt83,988 acres
- Lake Chelan32,623 acres
- Banks Lake26,888 acres
- Potholes Reservoir14,282 acres
- Ross Lake11,493 acres
- Box Canyon Reservoir9,317 acres
- Lake Entiat8,829 acres
- Lake Pateros8,099 acres
- Rufus Woods Lake8,022 acres
- Moses Lake6,728 acres
- Baker Lake4,755 acres
- Lake Spokane4,748 acres
- Swift Reservoir4,585 acres
- Cle Elum Lake4,566 acres
- Kachess Lake4,378 acres
- Lake Merwin3,836 acres
- Rimrock Lake2,546 acres
- Lake Tapps2,433 acres
- Keechelus Lake2,408 acres
- Vancouver Lake2,287 acres
- Rock Lake2,190 acres
- Palmer Lake2,032 acres
- Mayfield Lake2,022 acres
- Sprague Lake1,760 acres
Creek and river pages with rainbow trout
- Yakima RiverKittitas County
- Skagit RiverSkagit County
- Kalama RiverCowlitz County
- Methow RiverOkanogan County
- Wenatchee RiverChelan County
- Grande Ronde RiverAsotin County
- Chehalis RiverLewis County
- Humptulips RiverGrays Harbor County
- Klickitat RiverKlickitat County
- Skykomish RiverSnohomish County
- Snoqualmie RiverKing County
- Black RiverThurston County
- Nooksack RiverWhatcom County
- Okanogan RiverOkanogan County
- Sol Duc RiverClallam County
- Cowlitz RiverLewis County
- Lewis RiverSkamania County
- Skokomish RiverMason County
WDFW Fish Washington and high lake layer species lists, WDFW SWIFD distribution, record waters and 2026 trout plants; largest waters first.
Relatives of rainbow trout on the record list
- Atlantic Salmonfreshwater
- Brown Troutfreshwater
- Bull Troutfreshwater
- Chinook Salmonfreshwater
- Chum Salmonfreshwater
- Coho Salmonfreshwater
- Coastal Cutthroat Troutfreshwater
- Lahontan Cutthroat Troutfreshwater
- Westslope Cutthroat Troutfreshwater
- Dolly Vardenfreshwater
- Brook Troutfreshwater
- Golden Troutfreshwater
Lakes, rivers and sound close to Rainbow Trout, pictured
Photo: Pacific Fishery Management Council, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Rain Rannu, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Bernd Thaller, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Chris Ballance, CC BY 2.0
What to know before chasing rainbow trout in Washington
What daily limit covers rainbow trout in Washington?
Rule text: In rivers, streams, and beaver ponds: Min. size 8". Daily limit 2.
When was the Washington rainbow trout record set?
29.60 lbs, from Rufus Woods Lake, Okanogan County, 2002, by Norm Butler.
Which Washington pages point to rainbow trout?
Lake Roosevelt, Lake Chelan and Banks Lake head the 629 pages naming it.
Does WDFW plant rainbow trout?
WDFW logged 1,001 plants; the newest went to BATTLE GROUND Lake.
Where is the rainbow trout rule different in Washington?
Yes, 313 waters; see the Special Rules page.
Does Washington close the rainbow trout season?
Its 2026-27 season reads Sat. before Memorial Day-Oct. 31 (statewide river season, p.23). Check emergency rules before a trip.
What does an out-of-state angler buy for Washington rainbow 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.
Where do I take a Washington rainbow trout record?
WDFW keeps the list; weigh the unfrozen fish on a certified scale with two witnesses and take it to a WDFW office.
Chase rainbow trout around the Evergreen State
Every water above has ramps and limits on its own page.