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Fishing regulations at Benson Lake, WA
Disclaimer: Always check local fishing regulations, water access rights and land ownership before fishing, regardless of any catches logged in that area by the Fishbrain community. Fishbrain has mapped millions of acres of government-owned land across the USA to help you identify potential fishing access, but you are responsible for ensuring compliance with all legal requirements.
Fishing regulations in Washington can change throughout the year. Make sure to check this page before fishing for the most up to date rules and regulations for the current season. Local regulations govern when you can fish, the max size of the fish you can keep, how many fish you can keep, and more.
Regulations for top species
Largemouth bass
The maximum number of individual fish legally harvested per harvester per day. Bag limits are only for properly licensed anglers actively harvesting the species. People who are not actively harvesting or are not properly licensed (if a license is required) may NOT be counted for the purpose of bag limits.
No person shall harvest any individual fish greater than the maximum size except as permitted.
The maximum number of trophy individuals legally harvested per harvester per day. A trophy is any individual of a length greater than the max size limit. Trophy individuals are included in the daily bag limit unless stated otherwise.
Total length means the straight line distance from the most forward point of the head with the mouth closed, to the farthest tip of the tail with the tail compressed or squeezed, while the fish is lying on its side.
WA Non-game and Food Fish
You may not harvest in freshwater any fish not classified as a Food Fish or Game Fish except for Northern pike.
WA Snagging
You may not snag or attempt to snag fish. It is unlawful to possess a fish taken from freshwater that was not hooked inside the mouth or on the head. The head is defined as any portion forward of the rear margin of the gill plate.
WA Use of Drugs, Explosives or Poisons
You may not use drugs, explosives, or poison that may kill or injure fish and wildlife.
WA Crossbow
You may not use a crossbow to harvest fish or shellfish.
WA Sale or Barter
You may not offer any recreationally-caught fish or shellfish for sale or barter.
WA Possession and Fishing Rules
You may not fish for or harvest fish or shellfish in an area with catch in your possession that does not meet the rules of that area. However, you may pass through such an area without stopping to fish. Also, you may catch fish in one area and land them at a port in a different area even if that different area is closed or has different rules, with the exception of landing halibut in a closed area, or landing bottom fish caught in Oregon.
WA Harvesting another Person's Limit
You may not harvest any part of another person's daily limit, except for persons who possess a Designated Harvester Companion Card unless otherwise specified.
WA Bait
You may not chum (broadcast feed) to attract Game Fish unless authorized by Special Rules. You many not use salmon, herring, or halibut for anything other than human consumption or fishing bait. It is unlawful to possess or use live aquatic animals as bait, except: (1) Live aquatic animals (other than fish) collected from the water being fished; (2) Live sand shrimp; (3) Live forage fish in the Columbia River (downstream of Rocky Point/Tongue Point).
WA Transport of Live Fish
You may not transport live fish or relocate shellfish or shells into state waters without a permit.
WA Use of a Net
You may not use a net, except when using a dip net to land legally-hooked fish, a forage fish dip net to harvest forage fish.
WA Use of Chemicals
You may not use any type of chemical irritant to harvest fish, or shellfish unless a special exception has been made by the Director.
WA Bow and Arrow, Spear and Spearfishing
You may not fish for Game Fish, salmon, sturgeon, shad, octopus, crab, or other shellfish with bow and arrow, spear, or spearfishing gear unless authorized by Special Rules.
WA Gaff Hooks
You may not use a gaff hook, except to land lingcod (in Marine Areas 1-3 and 4 West of Bonilla-Tatoosh line), halibut, tuna, or dogfish shark that will be retained.
WA Season for Fishing Rivers Streams and Beaver Ponds
Rivers, streams and beaver ponds are open the Saturday before Memorial Day through October 31. Beaver ponds located within or connected to streams listed as open to trout and other game fish follow the same rules as the stream. Lakes, ponds, and reservoirs are open to fishing for game fish (except Dolly Varden/bull trout and grass carp) year-round.
WA Hook and Line Angling
Hook and line angling only. Barbed or barbless hooks may be used, and a hook may be single- point, double, or treble, but not more than one line with up to three hooks per angler may be used.
WA Cooperation with Data Collection
You must cooperate with data collection or other sampling of fish, shellfish or seaweed upon request of Department of Fish and Wildlife personnel. This includes relinquishing any part of a salmon, steelhead, or other species of fish containing coded-wire tags.
No min. size in lakes, ponds, and reservoirs. Only largemouth bass less than 12" may be retained, except 1 over 17" may be retained. Daily limit 5. No size restriction/daily limit in rivers, streams, and beaver ponds.
For more information please see State of Washington Fishing Regulations
COLVILLE RIVER
from the mouth to bridge at the town of Valley including Meyers Falls Reservoir
- All species
- Year-round
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
LITTLE PEND OREILLE RIVER AND TRIBUTARIES
- All species
- Selective gear rules.
- All game fish
- Sat. before Memorial Day-Oct. 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
BAYLEY LAKE
- All species
- Fly fishing only. Motors prohibited.
- 4th Sat. in Apr.-Oct. 31
- CLOSED WATERS inlet stream.
- All game fish
- 4th Sat. in Apr.-Oct. 31
- Catch and Release.
BLACK LAKE
- All game fish
- 4th Sat. in Apr.-Oct. 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
CEDAR LAKE
- All game fish
- 4th Sat. in Apr.-Oct. 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
DEEP LAKE
- All game fish
- 4th Sat. in Apr.-Oct. 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
DEER LAKE
- All game fish
- Mar. 1-Nov. 30
- Statewide min. size/daily limit. Except: Eastern brook trout count as part of trout daily limit.
ELBOW LAKE
- All game fish
- 4th Sat. in Apr.-Oct. 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit. Except: Eastern brook trout count as part of trout daily limit.
HATCH LAKE
- All game fish
- 1st Fri. after Thanksgiving- Mar. 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
LITTLE TWIN LAKE
- All game fish
- 4th Sat. in Apr.-Oct. 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
LOON LAKE
- All game fish
- 4th Sat. in Apr.-Oct. 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
MCDOWELL LAKE
- All species
- Motors prohibited. Fly fishing only.
- All game fish
- 4th Sat. in Apr.-Oct. 31
- Catch and Release.
MUDGETT LAKE
- All game fish
- 4th Sat. in Apr.-Oct. 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
PHALON LAKE
- All species
- CLOSED WATERS.
PHILLIPS LAKE
- All game fish
- Year-round
- Statewide min. size/daily limit. Except: Eastern brook trout count as part of trout daily limit.
PIERRE LAKE
- All species
- Unlawful to use lead weights or lead jigs measuring 1 1/2" or less along the longest axis.
- All game fish
- Year-round
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
POTTER'S POND
- All game fish
- 4th Sat. in Apr.-Oct. 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
RIGLEY LAKE
- All species
- Internal combustion motors prohibited. Selective gear rules.
- Trout
- 4th Sat. in Apr.-Oct. 31
- Min. size 14". Daily limit 2.
- Other game fish
- 4th Sat. in Apr.-Oct. 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
ROCKY LAKE
- All game fish
- 4th Sat. in Apr.-Oct. 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
ROOSEVELT LAKE
Little Dalles power line crossing upstream 1.7 miles to marked rock point CRC (549)
- All species
- Mar. 1-Fri. before Memo- rial Day
- CLOSED WATERS.
- Kokanee
- Sat. before Memorial Day-Last Day of Feb.
- No min. size. Daily limit 6. Up to 2 with intact adipose fins may be retained.
- Trout
- Sat. before Memorial Day-Last Day of Feb.
- Min. size 18". Daily limit 2.
- Walleye
- Sat. before Memorial Day-Last Day of Feb.
- Daily limit 16. No size restriction.
- Other game fish
- Sat. before Memorial Day-Last Day of Feb.
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
- Salmon
- Sat. before Memorial Day-Last Day of Feb.
- Salmon count toward trout daily limit. No catch record card required.
- Sturgeon
- Year-round
- Closed.
from marked rock point 1.7 miles upstream of Little Dalles power line crossing to Northport power line crossing CRC (549)
- Kokanee
- Year-round
- No min. size. Daily limit 6. Up to 2 with intact adipose fins may be retained.
- Trout
- Year-round
- Min. size 18". Daily limit 2.
- Walleye
- Year-round
- Daily limit 16. No size restriction.
- Other game fish
- Year-round
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
- Salmon
- Year-round
- Salmon count toward trout daily limit. No catch record card required.
- Sturgeon
- Year-round
- Closed.
Northport power line crossing to most upstream point of Steamboat Rock CRC (549)
- All species
- Mar. 1-Fri. before Memo- rial Day
- CLOSED WATERS.
- Kokanee
- Sat. before Memorial Day-Last Day of Feb.
- No min. size. Daily limit 6. Up to 2 with intact adipose fins may be retained.
- Trout
- Sat. before Memorial Day-Last Day of Feb.
- Min. size 18". Daily limit 2.
- Walleye
- Sat. before Memorial Day-Last Day of Feb.
- Daily limit 16. No size restriction.
- Other game fish
- Sat. before Memorial Day-Last Day of Feb.
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
- Salmon
- Sat. before Memorial Day-Last Day of Feb.
- Salmon count toward trout daily limit. No catch record card required.
- Sturgeon
- Year-round
- Closed.
from most upstream point of Steamboat Rock to U.S. Canadian Border CRC (549)
- Kokanee
- Year-round
- No min. size. Daily limit 6. No more than 2 with intact adipose fins may be retained.
- Trout
- Year-round
- Min. size 18". Daily limit 2.
- Walleye
- Year-round
- Daily limit 16. No size restriction.
- Other game fish
- Year-round
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
- Salmon
- Year-round
- Salmon count toward trout daily limit. No catch record card required.
- Sturgeon
- Year-round
- Closed.
Kettle Arm upstream to Barstow Bridge CRC (549)
- All species
- Mar. 1-Fri. before Memo- rial Day
- CLOSED WATERS.
- Kokanee
- Sat. before Memorial Day-Last Day of Feb.
- No min. size. Daily limit 6. Up to 2 with intact adipose fins may be retained.
- Trout
- Sat. before Memorial Day-Last Day of Feb.
- No min. size. Daily limit 5. Only adipose fin-clipped trout may be retained.
- Walleye
- Sat. before Memorial Day-Last Day of Feb.
- Daily limit 16. No size restriction.
- Other game fish
- Sat. before Memorial Day-Last Day of Feb.
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
- Salmon
- Sat. before Memorial Day-Last Day of Feb.
- Salmon count toward trout daily limit. No catch record card required.
- Sturgeon
- Year-round
- Closed.
Grand Coulee Dam to Little Dalles power line crossing including Hawk Creek down- stream of the falls at Hawk Creek Campground and the Spokane Arm upstream to 400' below Little Falls Dam CRC (549)
- Kokanee
- Year-round
- No min. size. Daily limit 6. No more than 2 with intact adipose fins may be retained.
- Trout
- Year-round
- No min. size. Daily limit 5. Only adipose fin-clipped trout may be retained.
- Walleye
- Year-round
- Daily limit 16. No size restriction.
- Other game fish
- Year-round
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
- Salmon
- Year-round
- Salmon count toward trout daily limit. No catch record card required.
- Sturgeon
- Year-round
- Closed.
SPRINGDALE CITY POND
AKA Lucky Duck Pond
- All species
- Open for juvenile anglers, senior anglers and anglers with a disability who possess a designated harvester companion card only. Two-Pole not allowed.
- All game fish
- Year-round
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
STARVATION LAKE
- All game fish
- 4th Sat. in Apr.-Oct. 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
SUMMIT LAKE
- All game fish
- 4th Sat. in Apr.-Oct. 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
WILLIAMS LAKE
- All game fish
- 1st Fri. after Thanksgiving- Mar. 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
KETTLE RIVER
from Barstow Bridge upstream to U.S.- Canadian border
- All species
- Internal combustion motors prohibited.
- Sat. before Memorial Day-Oct. 31
- Selective gear rules.
- Trout
- Sat. before Memorial Day-Oct. 31
- Min. size 14". Daily limit 2.
- Whitefish
- Nov. 1-Last Day of Feb.
- Statewide min. size/daily limit. Whitefish gear rules. Open for whitefish only.
- Other game fish
- Sat. before Memorial Day-Oct. 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
- Sturgeon
- Sat. before Memorial Day-Last Day of Feb.
- Closed.
from Canadian border upstream to Hwy. 21 Bridge at Curlew
- All species
- Internal combustion motors prohibited.
- Sat. before Memorial Day-Oct. 31
- Selective gear rules, except for juvenile anglers (under the age of 15).
- Trout
- Sat. before Memorial Day-Oct. 31
- Min. size 14". Daily limit 2.
- Whitefish
- Nov. 1-Last Day of Feb.
- Statewide min. size/daily limit. Whitefish gear rules. Open for whitefish only.
- Other game fish
- Sat. before Memorial Day-Oct. 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
from Hwy. 21 Bridge at Curlew upstream to Canadian border
- All species
- Internal combustion motors prohibited.
- Sat. before Memorial Day-Oct. 31
- Selective gear rules.
- Trout
- Sat. before Memorial Day-Oct. 31
- Min. size 14". Daily limit 2.
- Whitefish
- Nov. 1-Last Day of Feb.
- Statewide min. size/daily limit. Whitefish gear rules. Open for whitefish only.
- Other game fish
- Sat. before Memorial Day-Oct. 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
ROOSEVELT LAKE TRIBUTARIES
between Grand Coulee Dam and the Canadian border except tributaries listed elsewhere in Special Rules
- All game fish
- Sat. before Memorial Day-Oct. 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
- Sturgeon
- Sat. before Memorial Day-Oct. 31
- Closed.
LITTLE FALLS RESERVOIR
from Little Falls Dam to Long Lake Dam
- All game fish
- Year-round
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
- Salmon
- Year-round
- Landlocked salmon rules.
- Sturgeon
- Year-round
- Closed.
LONG LAKE (LAKE SPOKANE)
from Long Lake Dam to Nine Mile Dam, including Little Spokane River from the mouth to the SR 291 Bridge
- All game fish
- Year-round
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
- Salmon
- Year-round
- Landlocked salmon rules.
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