Smallmouth Bass in Washington
Where smallmouth bass live in Washington, with the rules.
- 10 dailylimit
- 8.75 lbsrecord
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A Washington profile of smallmouth bass
Find smallmouth bass in the Evergreen State freshwater table at the entry "Smallmouth Bass". What it says, quoted: No min. size in lakes, ponds, and reservoirs. Only 1 smallmouth bass over 14" may be retained. Daily limit 10.
The record book shows 8.75 lbs from Columbia River, Hanford Reach (1966), caught by Ray Wonacott. 78 Washington water pages here list the fish, Lake Roosevelt, Lake Umatilla and Lake Chelan first. The Special Rules tables name it for 76 waters. Taxonomists file it as Micropterus dolomieu.
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| Pamphlet row | Waters | Limit as printed | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smallmouth Bass | lakes, ponds, and reservoirs | No min. size in lakes, ponds, and reservoirs. Only 1 smallmouth bass over 14" may be retained. Daily limit 10. | Lakes, ponds, and reservoirs: year-round; rivers, streams and beaver ponds: Sat. before Memorial Day through Oct. 31 |
| Smallmouth 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.
Lakes and rivers that set smallmouth bass apart
Look for "bass, channel catfish, and walleye" and "smallmouth bass" in the Special Rules: 76 waters use them.
The biggest Washington smallmouth bass on file
| Listing | Weight | Angler | Water | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smallmouth Bass | 8.75 lbs | Ray Wonacott | Columbia River, Hanford Reach | April 23, 1966 |
WDFW sport fish records, read October 31, 2026; record list.
Washington pages listing smallmouth bass
Lake pages listing smallmouth 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
- Riffe Lake11,326 acres
- Box Canyon Reservoir9,317 acres
- Lake Entiat8,829 acres
- Lake Pateros8,099 acres
- Rufus Woods Lake8,022 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
- Rock Lake2,190 acres
- Osoyoos Lake2,062 acres
- Palmer Lake2,032 acres
- Boundary Reservoir1,579 acres
- Deer Lake (Stevens County)1,146 acres
- American Lake1,091 acres
River pages naming smallmouth bass
- Yakima RiverKittitas County
- Grande Ronde RiverAsotin County
- Okanogan RiverOkanogan County
- Cowlitz RiverLewis County
- Kettle RiverFerry County
- Pend Oreille RiverPend Oreille County
- Similkameen River (Okanogan County)Okanogan County
- Snake RiverWhitman County
- Chelan RiverChelan County
- Columbia RiverStevens County
- Colville RiverStevens County
- Palouse RiverWhitman County
- Sanpoil RiverFerry County
- Spokane RiverStevens County
- Touchet RiverWalla Walla County
- Tucannon RiverColumbia County
- Walla Walla RiverWalla Walla County
- White River (Chelan County)Chelan County
WDFW Fish Washington and high lake layer species lists, WDFW SWIFD distribution, record waters and 2026 trout plants; largest waters first.
Washington cousins of smallmouth bass
- Largemouth Bassfreshwater
- Rock Bassfreshwater
The shoreline country around Smallmouth Bass, in pictures
Photo: Richard Probst – Shot in a Frame, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Kev Cook, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Chris Ballance, CC BY 2.0
Evergreen State smallmouth bass, asked and answered
How many smallmouth bass may I keep in Washington?
Statewide: No min. size in lakes, ponds, and reservoirs. Only 1 smallmouth bass over 14" may be retained. Daily limit 10.
From which water did the Washington record smallmouth bass come?
WDFW lists 8.75 lbs, Columbia River, Hanford Reach, 1966, Ray Wonacott.
What Washington water is a good bet for smallmouth bass?
Start with Lake Roosevelt, Lake Umatilla and Lake Chelan among 78 pages.
Are smallmouth bass part of the WDFW plants report?
No 2026 WDFW trout plant names it.
Is the smallmouth bass rule the same everywhere in Washington?
It differs on 76 waters with Special Rules.
Is smallmouth bass open all year in Washington?
Season as printed: Lakes, ponds, and reservoirs: year-round; rivers, streams and beaver ponds: Sat. before Memorial Day through Oct. 31. Emergency rules can change it in season.
Which WDFW license lets me fish for smallmouth 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.
Who keeps the Washington record for smallmouth bass?
WDFW does; marine fish are verified only at the Region 4 or Region 6 offices or Olympia headquarters.
Find smallmouth bass within a drive
Each water listed has a Washington page.