Washington offers some of the best fishing in the Pacific Northwest. The Puget Sound provides salmon, halibut, and rockfish, the Olympic Peninsula features wild coastal steelhead streams, the Columbia River is famous for Chinook salmon and sturgeon, and Eastern Washington's lakes offer warmwater fishing for bass and walleye. The state has 8,000+ lakes and 70,000+ miles of rivers and streams.
Fishing Regulations
- Possession limit for game fish is 2 daily limits in any form.
- It is unlawful to fish for or retain green sturgeon; Pacific/western brook/river lamprey may not be taken or used as bait.
- Use of gaff hooks restricted; bow/spear not allowed for game fish unless authorized.
- Many special-rule rivers and lakes require barbless or single-point hooks - always check the Special Rules.
- Salmon: anglers may not continue fishing for salmon after the adult portion of the daily limit is retained.
16 species limits are shown per spot in the CatchTales app.
Pick a region below to explore its fishing spots.
Columbia River & Central
Columbia River, Snake River, Yakima River, Acker Lake
40 spots
Eastern WA & Spokane
Spokane River, Lake Roosevelt, Pend Oreille River, Howard Lake
40 spots
North Cascades & Mountains
Skagit River, Lake Chelan, Ross Lake, Apex Lake
40 spots
Olympic Peninsula & Coast
Queets River, Hoh River, Olympic Coast, Liberty Lake
40 spots
Puget Sound & Seattle
Puget Sound, Elliott Bay, Lake Washington, Alder Lake
89 spots
South Central WA & Tri-Cities
Yakima River, Snake River, Potholes Reservoir, Sheep Lake
40 spots
Get CatchTales
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