2011 Washington Fishing Prospects WHERE TO CATCH FISH IN THE EVERGREEN STATE Washington Department of FISH AND WILDLIFE 600 Capitol Way N – Olympia, WA 98501-1091 http://wdfw.wa.gov 1 CONTENTS Agency’s Contact Information 3 WDFW Regional Office Contact Information 4 What’s New for 2011-2012 Season? 5 Introduction 6 Licensing 10 License types and fees 11 Juvenile, Youth, Senior information 11 Military Licensing information 11 Fishing Kids Program and Schedule 12 “Go Play Outside” Initiative 13 Fish Consumption (Health) Advisories 13 Accessible Fishing for Persons with Disabilities 14 Accessible Outdoor Recreation Guild 15 Launch and Moorage Locations 15 Washington State Parks 15 Sport Fish of Washington 16 County-by-County Listings 30 Juvenile-Only and other special fishing waters in Washington 146 Fly-fishing Only waters in Washington 148 2011 Triploid Rainbow Trout Stocking Information 149 WDFW State Record Sport Fish Application information 149 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This publication is produced by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Inland Fish Program Manager, Jim Uehara, using information supplied by the Department’s field biological staff, including: Eric Anderson, Charmane Ashbrook, Steve Caromile, Jim Cummins, Wolf Dammers, Chris Donley, Mark Downen, Rick Ereth, Joe Hymer, Paul Hoffarth, Chad Jackson, Bob Jateff, Thom Johnson, Jeff Korth, Glen Mendel, Larry Phillips, Mike Scharpf, Art Viola, John Weinheimer, and no doubt other staff that were inadvertently omitted. Accessibility and Boating information is provided by the Recreation and Conservation office and the Washington State Parks websites. The Department of Health websites provide access to the human health advisories. AGENCIES CONTACT INFORMATION Agency Internet address — http://wdfw.wa.gov On-line license sales — http://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov Toll-free license sales — 1-866-246-9453 For fishing regulation changes, email: [email protected] For all other questions or comments, email: [email protected] Poaching Hotline – (877) 933-9847 To report derelict fishing gear – (800) 477-6224 To report fish kills, or oil or hazardous material spills, contact: Department of Emergency Management: (800) 258-4990 Toll-free WDFW shellfish rule change hotline — 1-866-880-5431 Toll-free DOH Shellfish Biotoxin hotline — 1-800-562-5632 Fishing rule change hotline — (360) 902-2500, press 2 for recreational rules Email fishing regulations questions to: [email protected] Email other fishing questions/comments to: [email protected] Fishing & Shell Fishing Rules for National Parks, certain Federal Lands, and Indian Reservations see: Olympia National Park - (360) 565-3130 Gifford Pinchot national Forest – (360) 891-5009 or www.fs.fed.us/gpnf Mt. Rainier National Park – (360) 569-2211 North Cascades National Park – (360) 854-7200 For rules that apply within the parks (State parks) – (360) 902-8500 State license and rules apply on Private, State and National Forest Lands. Before fishing on Indian reservations, contact the tribe for the necessary permits and rules. Quinault Indian Nation – (360) 276-8211 Colville Confederated Tribes - (509) 634-4711 Puyallup Tribe of Indians (253) 845-9225 Yakama Nation – (509) 865-5121 Lummi Tribe - (360)348-1489 Swinomish Tribal Community – (360) 466-7200 Makah Tribe - (360) 645-2201 Kalispel Tribe (509) 445-1147 An access permit is required to fish waters on a Military reservation Fort Lewis - (253) 947-7974 McChord Air Force Base fishing information – (253) 982-3913 General inquiries about Canadian fishing regulations and licensing Phone (604) 666-0384 or FAX (604) 666-1847 Fishing in Washington Sport Fishing regulations pamphlet is available online at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations/ Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Regional Contact Information Headquarters/Switchboard 600 N Capitol Way Olympia WA 98501-1091 (mailing address) 1111 Washington Street SE Olympia WA (physical address) Phone: (360) 902-2200 (reception desk) Phone (360) 902-2700 (Fish Program) Eastern Washington (Region 1) Southwest Washington (Region 5) 2315 N Discovery Place 2108 Grand Boulevard Spokane Valley WA 99216 Vancouver WA 98661 Phone: (509) 892-1001 Phone: (360) 696-6211 Columbia Basin (Region 2) Coast/Olympic/South Sound (Region 6) 1550 Alder Street NW 48 Devonshire Road Ephrata WA 98823-9699 Montesano WA 98563 Phone: (509) 754-4624 Phone: (360) 249-4628 or 586-6129 South Central Washington (Region 3) Wenatchee District Office 1701 S 24th Avenue 3860 Chelan Highway North Yakima WA 98902-5720 Wenatchee WA 98801-9607 Phone: (509) 575-2740 Phone: (509) 662-0452 North Puget Sound (Region 4) Point Whitney Shellfish Laboratory 16018 Mill Creek Boulevard 1000 Point Whitney Road Mill Creek WA 98012-1296 Brinnon WA 98320 Phone: (425) 775-1311 Phone: (360) 796-4601 What’s New for the 2011-2012 Season 2011 will bring several changes to be aware of in the Washington State Fishing Regulations. These rule changes are described in the front section of 2011/2012 “Fishing in Washington” regulations pamphlet (available on or before May 1, 2011) and online at http://wdfw.wa.gov for the actual regulatory language and rules. For a complete text and a listing of the changes made by the WDFW Commission at the February, March and April 2011 meetings, please refer to http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations/rule_proposals/. STATEWIDE RULE CHANGES In the past, statewide rule changes have been included in Fishing Prospects for the benefit of the anglers accessing this document. Unfortunately this will no longer happen due to the timing of the publication and regulation change/approval timelines. Currently all salmon marine water rules are negotiated under the North of Falcon committee process. The outcomes will be announced just prior to the release of the “Fishing in Washington” sport fish regulations pamphlet. Refer to this pamphlet and to the agency website for all changed, new and for those updated throughout the season. The website is http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/ . Please make sure that you return/report your catch record information for fishing and crabbing. The information on these cards is vital to providing accurate fish and crab harvest numbers. Remember that early crab, late crab and fish catch-record cards are three separate documents and that means there is the potential for three separate fees being imposed. If you are a Master Hunter, please be aware that failure to report these on time can result in the loss of that certification for up to five years. Again, check the website and rules pamphlet for more information regarding this change as it will be noted in the “new rule changes” section for all to be aware of. Remember, when preparing to enjoy a day on the water fishing, it is each angler’s responsibility to know the rules for the waters they are fishing in. Keep a copy of the current Fishing in Washington Sport Fishing regulations pamphlet with you at all times and be sure to check the WDFW website for any changes that may have occurred after the publication of regulation pamphlet. 2011 Fishing Prospects 5 INTRODUCTION Washington State continues to provide good to excellent marine fishing and shell-fishing along more than 500 miles of Pacific coast shoreline, and over 2,000 combined miles of Puget Sound, San Juan Islands, Strait of Juan de Fuca and Hood Canal shoreline. Sport fishing opportunities also abound in our 4,000 rivers and streams (stretching over 50,000 miles), more than 7,000 lakes (over 2,500 at alpine elevations) and 200+ reservoirs. Many lakes in the state are now open year around, but the spring lake fishing “opener” on the last Saturday in April signals the traditional start of Washington’s most intense freshwater fishing activity. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) estimates that as many as 300,000 anglers are out looking for a “bite” on that weekend alone. Other waters are managed in shorter seasons, often to protect nesting waterfowl or for other biological reasons. To meet fishing demand, WDFW hatcheries stock about 19 million trout and kokanee fry annually that will grow to catchable size in time for the spring opener. Another three million catchable trout are planted in lakes and streams in the late winter through spring. In addition, a number of lakes throughout the state will receive “bonus” plants of sterile triploid rainbow trout that can grow to impressive size. For a list of lakes and streams that are planted, along with their scheduled allotments of fish, visit http://wdfw.wa.gov. Phone numbers and website address information can be found at the front of this publication. Rivers and streams generally open the first Saturday in June, after trout have had a chance to spawn and most anadromous salmonid smolts (juvenile salmon, steelhead, sea-run cutthroat, and char) migrate to saltwater. Most rivers and streams are now managed to produce wild trout, coastal and westslope cutthroat, salmon and steelhead. Consequently, few are stocked with hatchery reared trout. Open seasons for marine fish, anadromous fish and shellfish vary according to species, and sometimes are set or adjusted during the year. Some rules and seasons may seem complex or restrictive, but are necessary to protect fragile populations of animals and in the case of shellfish sometimes are set to protect people. In addition to more publicized fish planting programs, WDFW also manages stocking programs designed to enhance fishing opportunities for species such as clams and oysters. Shellfish beaches and regulations are listed on WDFW’s website. Winter storms sometimes have a negative impact on fisheries. Excess silt coupled with strong stream flows can present serious problems for egg and juvenile fish survival, and excess turbidity hurts survival and growth of fry. Road washouts can make access to some waters difficult due to lowered water levels or stream blockages, and can also have a negative effect on egg and juvenile salmonid survival.