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Wenatchee River in fall
Seasons

Washington Fishing by Season

What's usually running, what to plan for and where to go, from winter steelhead to fall coho. Best Times, Not Regulations.

Washington's fishing calendar is set by the fish themselves. Salmon and steelhead return on their own schedules, lakes turn on as the water warms or cools, and salt water changes with the weather. This page walks through each season: what's usually running, what to think about before you go, and where to look. Each section links to guides who fish those waters.

What's Running, Month by Month

Usual seasons across the state. Individual waters vary.

For individual fisheries, waters and regional details, explore Fishery Guides.

Swipe for all 12 months. Nov is highlighted.

Winter Spring Summer Fall Win.
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Salmon & Steelhead
Chinook — Buoy 10 (6)
Coho — Buoy 10 (4)
Chum — Hood Canal (1)
Coho — Hood Canal (6)
Winter Steelhead — Olympic Peninsula (32)
Summer Steelhead — Olympic Peninsula (32)
Chinook — Puget Sound (7)
Coho — Puget Sound (6)
Chum — Puget Sound (1)
Pink — Puget Sound (1)
Sockeye — Puget Sound (1)
Coho — Skagit, Snohomish & Sky (2)
Pink — Skagit, Snohomish & Sky (1)
Sockeye — Skagit, Snohomish & Sky (2)
Steelhead — Skagit, Snohomish & Sky (15)
Chinook — Westport (1)
Coho — Westport
Salmon — Neah Bay and Strait (10)
Salt Water
Dungeness Crab — Puget Sound (8)
Red Rock Crab — Puget Sound (8)
Squid — Puget Sound (1)
Halibut — Pacific Coast (10)
Lingcod — Pacific Coast (8)
Rockfish / Bottomfish — Pacific Coast (12)
Albacore — Washington Coast (10)
Halibut — Neah Bay and Strait (10)
Fresh Water
Walleye — Columbia & Snake (14)
Smallmouth Bass — Columbia & Snake (5)
Rainbow Trout — Yakima River (1)
Whitefish — Yakima River
Walleye — Lake Roosevelt (6)
Kokanee — Lake Roosevelt (5)
Trout — Lake Roosevelt (10)
Trout — Cascade Alpine Lakes (4)

Best timeShoulder or Some AreasTap a row to find guides.

Yakima River Canyon

Spring

Mar–May
  • Salmon
  • Steelhead
  • Trout
  • Kokanee
  • Walleye
  • Halibut
  • Lingcod
  • Rockfish / Bottomfish
Some years or areas: Squid Season page ›Season page › Puget Sound at Golden Gardens

Summer

Jun–Aug
  • Salmon
  • Trout
  • Kokanee
  • Walleye
  • Halibut
  • Lingcod
  • Rockfish / Bottomfish
  • Albacore Tuna
  • Crab
Some years or areas: Steelhead, Squid Season page ›Season page › Wenatchee River in fallIn Season Now

Fall

Sep–Nov
  • Salmon
  • Trout
  • Kokanee
  • Walleye
  • Bass
  • Lingcod
  • Rockfish / Bottomfish
  • Albacore Tuna
  • Squid
Some years or areas: Steelhead, Halibut, Crab Season page ›Season page › Bogachiel River, Olympic Peninsula

Winter

Dec–Feb
  • Salmon
  • Steelhead
  • Squid
Some years or areas: Trout, Kokanee, Walleye, Halibut, Crab Season page ›Season page ›

Spring

Mar–May

7 of the 15 fisheries on our map are at their best in spring (Mar–May), across 7 regions. Most often in the picture: salmon, steelhead, trout, kokanee. Best Times, Not Regulations.

What's Running

  • Salmon1 fishery
  • Steelhead2 fisheries
  • Trout2 fisheries
  • Kokanee1 fishery
  • Walleye2 fisheries
  • Halibut2 fisheries
  • Lingcod1 fishery
  • Rockfish / Bottomfish1 fishery

Some years or areas: Squid.

Guides for Spring

PHD Guide Service

Pacific Coast (Westport/Ilwaco)
Albacore Tuna · Halibut · Lingcod+2 more
Saltwater charter
License not yet verified
No reviews
Rates: Ask the Guide
View Profile

Ask your guide for their WDFW guide license number before you book.

See All Washington Coast Bottomfish, Halibut and Lingcod Charters Guides Browse All Guides

Month by Month

January February March April May June July August September October November December

Field Notes

Summer

Jun–Aug

12 of the 15 fisheries on our map are at their best in summer (Jun–Aug), across 9 regions. Most often in the picture: salmon, trout, kokanee, walleye. Best Times, Not Regulations.

What's Running

  • Salmon5 fisheries
  • Trout3 fisheries
  • Kokanee1 fishery
  • Walleye2 fisheries
  • Halibut2 fisheries
  • Lingcod1 fishery
  • Rockfish / Bottomfish1 fishery
  • Albacore Tuna1 fishery
  • Crab1 fishery

Some years or areas: Steelhead, Squid.

Guides for Summer

365 Charters

365 Charters

Puget Sound & San Juans
Bass · Lingcod · Salmon
Saltwater charter
License not yet verified
No reviews
Rates: $225 to $900 / person
View Profile

Ask your guide for their WDFW guide license number before you book.

See All Puget Sound Salmon Fishing Guides Browse All Guides

Month by Month

January February March April May June July August September October November December

Field Notes

Fall

Sep–Nov In Season Now

10 of the 15 fisheries on our map are at their best in fall (Sep–Nov), across 7 regions. Most often in the picture: salmon, trout, kokanee, walleye. Best Times, Not Regulations.

What's Running

  • Salmon4 fisheries
  • Trout2 fisheries
  • Kokanee1 fishery
  • Walleye2 fisheries
  • Bass1 fishery
  • Lingcod1 fishery
  • Rockfish / Bottomfish1 fishery
  • Albacore Tuna1 fishery
  • Squid1 fishery

Some years or areas: Steelhead, Halibut, Crab.

What to Think About

Rain and River Levels

Coho wait for rain. A good rain brings fish in, and a big one can blow a river out. Check flows before you drive and ask your guide how they handle high water.

Rules Change In Season

Rules vary by water and can change in season. Size, limit and season rules apply; check WDFW regulations and emergency rules before you go.

Hatchery or Wild

Hatchery fish have a clipped adipose fin. Whether you may keep a fish, and what bait, hooks and gear you may use, depends on the water. Check WDFW before you go.

Gear and Methods

Troll, mooch or cast for marine coho. In South Sound, spinners, cut-plug herring and Clousers work for October net-pen coho. Jig squid under pier lights. Fish walleye slowly on the bottom with harnesses, blade baits or jigs.

Licenses and Catch Cards

License and catch record card rules apply, including for squid and crab. Before you go, check WDFW regulations and emergency rules.

Crowds and Etiquette

Popular access sites like Drano Lake get busy at the peak. Stay off private tidelands near Hoodsport, and don't wade through spawning beds.

Cold-Water Safety

Washington water is cold all year. Cold-water shock can hit within minutes of falling in, long before hypothermia, so wear a life jacket.

Where to Go

Puget Sound Salmon Fishing (32) Skagit, Snohomish and Skykomish Salmon and Steelhead Fishing (15) Columbia and Snake River Walleye Fishing (14) Washington Coast Bottomfish, Halibut and Lingcod Charters (12) Lake Roosevelt Walleye, Kokanee and Trout Fishing (6) Squid Jigging in Puget Sound (2) Hood Canal Chum Salmon Fishing (1) Buoy 10 Salmon Fishing at the Mouth of the Columbia (34) Washington Coast Albacore Tuna (10) Cascade Alpine Lakes Trout Fishing (4)

Guides for Fall

365 Charters

365 Charters

Puget Sound & San Juans
Bass · Lingcod · Salmon
Saltwater charter
License not yet verified
No reviews
Rates: $225 to $900 / person
View Profile

Ask your guide for their WDFW guide license number before you book.

See All Puget Sound Salmon Fishing Guides Browse All Guides

Month by Month

January February March April May June July August September October November December

Field Notes

Winter

Dec–Feb

5 of the 15 fisheries on our map are at their best in winter (Dec–Feb), across 4 regions. Most often in the picture: salmon, steelhead, squid. Best Times, Not Regulations.

What's Running

  • Salmon1 fishery
  • Steelhead2 fisheries
  • Squid1 fishery

Some years or areas: Trout, Kokanee, Walleye, Halibut, Crab.

What to Think About

Wild steelhead rules (check each river)
High, cold water and blown rivers
Winter marine-area rules for blackmouth
Ice: 4 inches minimum, never alone
Cold-water shock

Where to Go

Olympic Peninsula Winter Steelhead (32) Yakima River Trout Fishing (20) Skagit, Snohomish and Skykomish Salmon and Steelhead Fishing (15) Squid Jigging in Puget Sound (2) Hood Canal Chum Salmon Fishing (1)

Guides for Winter

Andy's Angling

Andy’s Angling

Lower Columbia & SW WA · Olympic Peninsula
Salmon · Steelhead · Sturgeon
License not yet verified
No reviews
Rates: Ask the Guide
View Profile

Mike Z Guide Service

Lower Columbia & SW WA · Olympic Peninsula
Salmon · Steelhead · Sturgeon
License not yet verified
No reviews
Rates: Ask the Guide
View Profile

Ask your guide for their WDFW guide license number before you book.

See All Olympic Peninsula Winter Steelhead Guides Browse All Guides

Month by Month

January February March April May June July August September October November December

Field Notes

Region by Season

What each part of the state is usually known for, season by season.

Region SpringMar–May SummerJun–Aug FallSep–Nov WinterDec–Feb
Puget Sound & San Juans Some years or areas: Salmon, Squid Salmon, Crab. Some years or areas: Squid Salmon, Squid. Some years or areas: Crab Salmon, Squid. Some years or areas: Crab
Strait & Neah Bay Salmon, Halibut Salmon, Halibut Some years or areas: Salmon, Halibut Some years or areas: Salmon, Halibut
Olympic Peninsula Steelhead Not yet sourced Some years or areas: Steelhead Steelhead
Pacific Coast (Westport/Ilwaco) Halibut, Lingcod, Rockfish / Bottomfish Salmon, Halibut, Lingcod, Rockfish / Bottomfish, Albacore Tuna Lingcod, Rockfish / Bottomfish, Albacore Tuna. Some years or areas: Salmon, Halibut Not yet sourced
Lower Columbia & SW WA Not yet sourced Salmon Salmon Not yet sourced
North Cascades Rivers Steelhead Salmon. Some years or areas: Steelhead Salmon. Some years or areas: Steelhead Steelhead
Central WA (Yakima/Methow/Klickitat) Trout Trout Some years or areas: Trout Not yet sourced
Columbia Basin Lakes Walleye Walleye Walleye, Bass Not yet sourced
NE WA & Spokane Trout, Kokanee, Walleye Trout, Kokanee, Walleye Trout, Kokanee, Walleye Some years or areas: Trout, Kokanee, Walleye
Alpine Lakes Not yet sourced Trout Trout Not yet sourced
Puget Sound & San Juans
Spring
Some years or areas: Salmon, Squid
Summer
Salmon, Crab. Some years or areas: Squid
Fall
Salmon, Squid. Some years or areas: Crab
Winter
Salmon, Squid. Some years or areas: Crab
Find Guides in Puget Sound & San Juans
Strait & Neah Bay
Spring
Salmon, Halibut
Summer
Salmon, Halibut
Fall
Some years or areas: Salmon, Halibut
Winter
Some years or areas: Salmon, Halibut
Find Guides in Strait & Neah Bay
Olympic Peninsula
Spring
Steelhead
Summer
Not yet sourced
Fall
Some years or areas: Steelhead
Winter
Steelhead
Find Guides in Olympic Peninsula
Pacific Coast (Westport/Ilwaco)
Spring
Halibut, Lingcod, Rockfish / Bottomfish
Summer
Salmon, Halibut, Lingcod, Rockfish / Bottomfish, Albacore Tuna
Fall
Lingcod, Rockfish / Bottomfish, Albacore Tuna. Some years or areas: Salmon, Halibut
Winter
Not yet sourced
Find Guides in Pacific Coast (Westport/Ilwaco)
Lower Columbia & SW WA
Spring
Not yet sourced
Summer
Salmon
Fall
Salmon
Winter
Not yet sourced
Find Guides in Lower Columbia & SW WA
North Cascades Rivers
Spring
Steelhead
Summer
Salmon. Some years or areas: Steelhead
Fall
Salmon. Some years or areas: Steelhead
Winter
Steelhead
Find Guides in North Cascades Rivers
Central WA (Yakima/Methow/Klickitat)
Spring
Trout
Summer
Trout
Fall
Some years or areas: Trout
Winter
Not yet sourced
Find Guides in Central WA (Yakima/Methow/Klickitat)
Columbia Basin Lakes
Spring
Walleye
Summer
Walleye
Fall
Walleye, Bass
Winter
Not yet sourced
Find Guides in Columbia Basin Lakes
NE WA & Spokane
Spring
Trout, Kokanee, Walleye
Summer
Trout, Kokanee, Walleye
Fall
Trout, Kokanee, Walleye
Winter
Some years or areas: Trout, Kokanee, Walleye
Find Guides in NE WA & Spokane
Alpine Lakes
Spring
Not yet sourced
Summer
Trout
Fall
Trout
Winter
Not yet sourced
Find Guides in Alpine Lakes