Enjoy a winter angling vacation in Washington by catching species like walleye, steelhead, crappie and more. The state’s winter fisheries are generally open November through March (and some year-round) providing you plenty of opportunities to catch your favorite winter game fish.
Table of Contents
What can I fish for in the winter in Washington state?
Winter fishing in Washington doesn’t get nearly the attention as spring, summer, or fall, but many lakes and reservoirs offer excellent wintertime fishing for rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, yellow perch, walleye, burbot, crappie, and more during February and early March.
Is fly fishing in the winter good?
Yes. Absolutely. There are prolific insect hatches even on the coldest trout streams. Granted, you’re not likely to see sizable bugs, but dry-fly fishing to trout rising to midges can be truly exhilarating when winter’s quiet cloaks the river.
What can I fish in January in Washington?
January is a great time to target Steelhead. Seattle area rivers like the Snoqualmie and Skykomish have returning Hatchery Steelhead that usually peak in December and January. Coastal Rivers like the Bogachiel, Queets, Humptulips, Wynoochee, Satsop and others have hatchery returns as well.
Can you fish year-round in Washington state?
LAKES, PONDS, and RESERVOIRS are open to fishing for Game Fish (except DOLLy VARDEN/BULL TROUT and GRASS CARP) year-round. RIVERS, STREAmS, and BEAVER PONDS are CLOSED to fishing unless listed as open.
What can I fish for right now in Washington state?
Freshwater areas are open 24 hours per day when open. All freshwater areas are closed to fishing for salmon, Dolly Varden/bull trout, lamprey, and grass carp. Lakes, ponds, and reservoirs are open to fishing for game fish (except Dolly Varden/bull trout and grass carp) year-round.
When can you fish for steelhead in Washington?
Expect the best summer-run catches on the Skykomish to come in June and into July, while winter steelhead catches tend to peak here in December and January.
What fish are in season in Puget Sound?
The best times to fish near Seattle is June through September for chinook salmon, coho salmon, sockeye salmon, pink salmon (during odd number years), flounder, and lingcod. Chum salmon fishing is best near Seattle October through December. The peak of the king salmon run is June through August.
What is too cold for fly fishing?
DON’T FISH when it’s below 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Of course, you find those special situations when you feel like you must be out there. But people layer up and duck hunt or deer hunt in cold, snowy windy weather, because that’s when those animals are on the move. There are short, defined seasons.
How do you fly fish for trout in the winter?
How do you catch trout in the winter fly fishing?
- The trick to catching fish with flies in the winter boils down to four simple rules: Slow Down; Size Down; Tone Down; Present Down(stream).
- Slow Down.
- Tip 2–Stalk Softly & Cast High: When trout are in the slowed down winter mode, the angler should slow down as well.
How many trout can you keep in Washington?
Trout. The combined daily limit for an angler that fishes in both rivers and lakes on the same day is 5 trout, no more than 2 may be from rivers.
Can you keep wild steelhead in Washington?
One new rule prohibits the retention of wild steelhead on the Quillayute, Dickey, Bogachiel, Calawah, Sol Due, Hoh, Clearwater and Quinault rivers – the only rivers in Washington where anglers are currently allowed to catch and keep a wild steelhead.
What can I fish for in Puget Sound right now?
Many inland marine salmon fisheries are happening right now for either Chinook or coho. Some are dependent on catch quotas or guidelines so anglers should consult the regulation pamphlet or WDFW website for updates. Visit the Puget Sound salmon fishery guidelines and quotas page for the latest information.
Where is the best trout fishing in Washington State?
South Central Washington’s Best: Yakima River The Yakima is without a doubt considered by most veteran anglers to be the best trout fly fishing river in Washington, and it’s one of the only trout streams in the state that fly fishermen from Oregon and Idaho will travel to Washington to fish.
Is it legal to fish at night in Washington?
Yes it is legal to fish at night.
Are barbed hooks illegal in Washington?
(1) It is unlawful to use more than two hooks to fish in saltwater, except for forage fish jigger gear and squid jig gear, and when fishing from the north jetty of the Columbia River. (2) It is unlawful to use barbed hooks in Marine Areas 5-13, except for forage fish jigger gear.
Can you fish for trout in closed season?
You can fish for salmon and sea trout during the coarse fish close season, but you must have a migratory salmon licence and can only use certain types of lures and baits in some areas. Last year’s closed season was one of our busiest, as we saw many new anglers enter the sport.
Where is the best fishing in Washington State?
- Fish Lake, Leavenworth, WA. Fish Lake is one of the region’s most popular fishing spots, catch your quota of brook trout, rainbow trout and tiger trout.
- Lake Washington.
- Columbia River and Tributaries.
- Lake Roosevelt.
- Green Lake, Seattle, WA.
What fish are running in Washington?
The five ocean-going species that are available in at least parts of Washington are Chinook, coho, chum, sockeye and pink salmon. What is this? Along with Alaska, Washington is the only state in the country that has fishable runs of all species of Pacific salmon.
What rivers are closed for steelhead in Washington?
In effect from Dec. 1, 2021 through April 30, 2022, state-managed steelhead sport fisheries will close in the Quinault and Queets rivers and their tributaries. During this time, both tribal and state fisheries will close in the Chehalis River and its tributaries as well as the Humptulips River.
Is steelhead fishing closed in Washington state?
2022 update: State announces full closure to coastal steelhead fishing to support conservation following indications of lower-than-expected returns. View the fishing rule change. WDFW is committed to helping to advance conservation of coastal steelhead while maximizing possible angling opportunities.
Where are the steelhead in Washington?
Geographic range. Like chinook salmon, steelhead have two runs, a summer run and a winter run. Most summer runs are east of the Cascades, and enter streams in summer to reach the spawning grounds by the following spring. A few western Washington rivers also have established runs of summer steelhead.
Are there Halibut in Puget Sound?
Puget Sound Region (Marine Areas 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10) In all marine areas open to halibut fishing, there is a one-fish daily catch limit and no minimum size restriction.
Can you keep wild salmon in Washington?
Daily limit 2. Only 1 Chinook may be retained. Release chum, wild coho, and wild Chinook. Season may close earlier if Chinook quota is attained.