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Fishing regulations at Surprise Lakes, 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
Brook trout
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.
Eastern Brook Trout (EBT): No min. size. No
daily limit.
For more information please see State of Washington Fishing Regulations
HAMILTON CREEK
CRC (598)
- All species
- Selective gear rules, except barbed hooks are allowed.
- Trout
- Sat. before Memorial Day-Oct. 31
- Min. size 14". Daily limit 2.
- Steelhead (hatchery)
- Sat. before Memorial Day-Oct. 31
- Min. size 20". Daily limit 3.
- Other game fish
- Sat. before Memorial Day-Oct. 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
- Salmon
- Aug. 1-Oct. 31
- Min. size 12". Daily limit 6 including no more than 2 adults. Release all salmon other than hatchery Chinook and hatchery coho.
tributaries downstream from the Hwy. 14 Bridge
- All species
- CLOSED WATERS.
LITTLE WHITE SALMON RIVER
from the orange fishing boundary markers at Drano Lake to the intake near the north boundary of the Little White Salmon National Fish Hatchery
- All species
- CLOSED WATERS.
from the intake near the north boundary of the Little White Salmon National Fish Hatchery upstream
- Trout
- Sat. before Memorial Day-Oct. 31
- Min. size 8". Daily limit 5.
- Other game fish
- Sat. before Memorial Day-Oct. 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
MUDDY RIVER
- All species
- Selective gear rules.
- All game fish
- Sat. before Memorial Day-Oct. 31
- Catch-and-release.
ROCK CREEK
from mouth to falls (about river mile 1) CRC (632)
- Trout
- Sat. before Memorial Day-Mar. 15
- Min. size 14". Daily limit 2.
- Steelhead (hatchery)
- Sat. before Memorial Day-Mar. 15
- Min. size 20". Daily limit 3.
- Other game fish
- Sat. before Memorial Day-Mar. 15
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
- Salmon
- Aug. 1-Dec. 31
- Min. size 12". Daily limit 6 including no more than 2 adults. Release all salmon other than hatchery Chinook and hatchery coho.
WASHOUGAL RIVER, WEST (NORTH) FORK
from mouth to water intake at WDFW Hatchery.
- All species
- CLOSED WATERS.
from water intake at WDFW Hatchery upstream CRC (665)
- Trout
- Sat. before Memorial Day-Mar. 15
- Min. size 14". Daily limit 2.
- Steelhead (hatchery)
- Sat. before Memorial Day-Mar. 15
- Min. size 20". Daily limit 3.
- Other game fish
- Sat. before Memorial Day-Mar. 15
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
- Salmon
- Aug. 1-Dec. 31
- Min. size 12". Daily limit 6 including no more than 2 adults. Release all salmon other than hatchery Chinook and hatchery coho.
WIND RIVER
from boundary line markers at mouth to Hwy. 14 Bridge CRC (680)
- All species
- Mar. 16-June 30
- Night closure. Each angler aboard a vessel may deploy salmon/steelhead angling gear until the daily salmon/steelhead limit for all anglers aboard has been achieved. Anglers may fish with 2 poles for salmon and steelhead with Two-Pole Endorsement.
- July 1-Oct. 31
- Night closure for salmon and steelhead fishing only.
- Aug. 1-Oct. 31
- Anti-snagging rule.
- Trout
- Year-round
- Statewide min. size/daily limit. Except: Release cutthroat trout and wild rainbow trout.
- Other game fish
- Year-round
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
- Salmon and hatchery steelhead
- Mar. 16-June 30
- Min. size 12". Daily limit 6 including no more than 2 adult salmon or 2 hatchery steelhead or 1 of each. Release wild Chinook and wild coho.
- July 1-Sept. 30
- Min. size 12". Daily limit 6 salmon including no more than 2 adults. Release wild Chinook and wild coho. Closed to fishing for or retaining steelhead.
- Oct. 1-Oct. 31
- Min. size 12". Daily limit 6 salmon including no more than 2 adults. Release wild coho. Closed to fishing for or retaining steelhead.
- Nov. 1-Mar. 15
- Daily limit 3 hatchery steelhead. Release all salmon.
from Hwy. 14 Bridge to 400' downstream of Shipherd Falls fish ladder CRC (679)
- All species
- Mar. 16-June 30
- Night closure.
- May 1-June 30
- Anti-snagging rule.
- July 1-Oct. 31
- Night closure for salmon and steelhead fishing only.
- Aug. 1-Oct. 31
- Anti-snagging rule.
- Trout
- Year-round
- Statewide min. size/daily limit. Except: Release cutthroat trout and wild rainbow trout.
- Other game fish
- Year-round
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
- Salmon and hatchery steelhead
- Mar. 16-June 30
- Min. size 12". Daily limit 6 including no more than 2 adult salmon or 2 hatchery steelhead or 1 of each. Release wild Chinook and wild coho.
- July 1-Oct. 31
- Min. size 12". Daily limit 6 salmon including no more than 2 adults. Release wild Chinook and wild coho. Closed to fishing for or retaining steelhead.
- Nov. 1-Mar. 15
- Min. size 20". Daily limit 3 hatchery steelhead. Release all salmon.
from 400' below to 100' above Shipherd Falls fish ladder
- All species
- CLOSED WATERS.
from 100' above Shipherd Falls to 400' below Coffer Dam (at river mile 2.93, -121.812619, 45.745576) CRC (677)
- All species
- Anti-snagging rule. Night closure.
- Sept. 16-Nov. 30
- Selective gear rules, except barbed hooks are allowed.
- All game fish
- Sept. 16-Nov. 30
- Catch-and-release.
- Salmon and hatchery steelhead
- May 1-June 30
- Min. size 12". Daily limit 6 including no more than 2 adult salmon or 2 hatchery steelhead or 1 of each.
from 400' below to 100' above Coffer Dam (at river mile 2.93, -121.812619, 45.745576)
- All species
- CLOSED WATERS.
from 100' above Coffer Dam to 800 yards downstream of Carson National Fish Hatchery CRC (677)
- All species
- Anti-snagging rule. Night closure.
- Sept. 16-Nov. 30
- Selective gear rules, except barbed hooks are allowed.
- All game fish
- Sept. 16-Nov. 30
- Catch-and-release.
- Salmon and hatchery steelhead
- May 1-June 30
- Min. size 12". Daily limit 6 including no more than 2 adult salmon or 2 hatchery steelhead or 1 of each.
from 800 yards downstream of Carson National Fish Hatchery to Moore Bridge
- All species
- Selective gear rules, except barbed hooks are allowed.
- All game fish
- Sept. 16-Nov. 30
- Catch-and-release.
from Moore Bridge upstream
- All species
- CLOSED WATERS.
WIND RIVER TRIBUTARIES
- All species
- CLOSED WATERS.
DRANO LAKE
downstream of markers on point of land downstream and across from Little White Salmon National Fish Hatchery and upstream of Hwy. 14 Bridge CRC (618)
- All species
- Jan. 1-Apr. 30
- Two-Pole not allowed.
- Mar. 16-Oct. 31
- Night Closure.
- 2nd Wed. in Apr.-June 30
- CLOSED Wednesdays from second Wednesday in April through June 30.
- May 1-June 30
- Anglers may fish for salmon and steelhead with two poles with Two-pole Endorsement and each angler aboard a vessel may deploy salmon/steelhead angling gear until the daily salmon/steelhead limit for all anglers aboard has been achieved.
- July 1-Sept. 30
- Two-Pole not allowed.
- Aug. 1-Dec. 31
- Anti-snagging rule.
- Oct. 1-Oct. 31
- CLOSED from 6:00 p.m. Tuesdays to 6:00 p.m. Wednesdays during October.
- Oct. 1-Dec. 31
- Anglers may fish for salmon and steelhead with two poles with Two-pole Endorsement and each angler aboard a vessel may deploy salmon/steelhead angling gear until the daily salmon/steelhead limit for all anglers aboard has been achieved.
- Trout
- Year-round
- Release all trout.
- Bass, channel cat- fish, and walleye
- Year-round
- No min. size. No daily limit.
- Other game fish
- Year-round
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
- Salmon and hatch- ery steelhead
- Jan. 1-Mar. 15
- Daily limit 2 hatchery steelhead. Release all salmon.
- Mar. 16-June 30
- Min. size 12". Daily limit 2 hatchery steelhead or 2 salmon, or 1 of each. Release all salmon other than hatchery Chinook.
- July 1-July 31
- Min. size 12". Daily limit 2 salmon. Release all salmon other than hatchery Chinook. Closed to fishing for or retaining steelhead.
- Aug. 1-Oct. 31
- Min. size 12". Daily limit 6. Up to 1 adult salmon may be retained. Closed to fishing for or retaining steelhead.
- Nov. 1-Dec. 31
- Min. size 12". Daily limit 6. Up to 1 adult salmon or hatchery steelhead may be retained.
area west of a line projected from the easternmost pillar of Hwy. 14 Bridge to a posted marker on the north shore CRC (618)
- All species
- Jan. 1-Apr. 30
- Two-Pole not allowed.
- Mar. 16-Oct. 31
- Night Closure.
- 2nd Wed. in Apr.-June 30
- CLOSED Wednesdays from second Wednesday in April through June 30.
- Apr. 16-June 30
- Fishing from any floating device prohibited. Bank fishing only.
- May 1-June 30
- Anglers may fish for salmon and steelhead with two poles with Two-Pole Endorsement.
- July 1-Sept. 30
- Two-Pole not allowed.
- Aug. 1-Dec. 31
- Anti-snagging rule.
- Oct. 1-Oct. 31
- CLOSED from 6:00 p.m. Tuesdays to 6:00 p.m. Wednesdays during October.
- Oct. 1-Dec. 31
- Anglers may fish for salmon and steelhead with two poles with Two-Pole Endorsement and each angler aboard a vessel may deploy salmon/steelhead angling gear until the daily salmon/steelhead limit for all anglers aboard has been achieved.
- Trout
- Year-round
- Release all trout.
- Bass, channel cat- fish, and walleye
- Year-round
- No min. size. No daily limit.
- Other game fish
- Year-round
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
- Salmon and hatch- ery steelhead
- Jan. 1-Mar. 15
- Daily limit 2 hatchery steelhead. Release all salmon.
- Mar. 16-June 30
- Min. size 12". Daily limit 2. Up to 2 hatchery steelhead or 2 salmon, or 1 of each may be retained. Release all salmon other than hatchery Chinook.
- July 1-July 31
- Min. size 12". Daily limit 2 salmon. Release all salmon other than hatchery Chinook. Closed to fishing for or retaining steelhead.
- Aug. 1-Oct. 31
- Min. size 12". Daily limit 6. Up to 1 adult salmon may be retained. Closed to fishing for or retaining steelhead.
- Nov. 1-Dec. 31
- Min. size 12". Daily limit 6. Up to 1 adult salmon or hatchery steelhead may be retained.
FRANZ LAKE
- All species
- CLOSED WATERS.
GRIZZLY LAKE
- All species
- CLOSED WATERS.
INDIAN HEAVEN WILDERNESS LAKES
Indian Heaven Wilderness Lakes
- Trout
- Year-round
- Min. size 8". Daily limit 2.
- Other game fish
- Year-round
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
SPIRIT LAKE
- All species
- CLOSED WATERS.
SWIFT RESERVOIR
from dam to markers approx. 3/8 mile below Eagle Cliff Bridge
- All species
- Two-Pole not allowed.
- Trout
- Sat. before Memorial Day-Nov. 30
- Min. size 8". Daily limit 10. Release wild trout.
- Steelhead
- Sat. before Memorial Day-Nov. 30
- Release all steelhead.
- Other game fish
- Sat. before Memorial Day-Nov. 30
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
- Salmon
- Sat. before Memorial Day-Nov. 30
- Min. size 8". Max. size 15". Salmon count toward trout daily limit. No catch record card required.
from markers approx. 3/8 mile below Eagle Cliff Bridge to bridge
- All species
- Selective gear rules, except barbed hooks are allowed. Two-Pole not allowed.
- Trout
- Sat. before Memorial Day-July 15
- Min. size 8". Daily limit 10. Release wild trout.
- Steelhead
- Sat. before Memorial Day-July 15
- Release all steelhead.
- Other game fish
- Sat. before Memorial Day-July 15
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
- Salmon
- Sat. before Memorial Day-July 15
- Min. size 8". Max. size 15". Salmon count toward trout daily limit. No catch record card required.
BLUE LAKE CREEK
- All species
- Selective gear rules.
- All game fish
- Sat. before Memorial Day-Oct. 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
YELLOWJACKET CREEK
tributary to Cispus River
- All species
- Selective gear rules.
- All game fish
- Sat. before Memorial Day-Oct. 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
CANYON CREEK
- Trout
- Sat. before Memorial Day-Oct. 31
- Min. size 8". Daily limit 5.
- Other game fish
- Sat. before Memorial Day-Oct. 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
WHITE SALMON RIVER
from mouth (BNSF Railroad Bridge) to County Rd. Bridge below the former location of the powerhouse CRC (508)
- All species
- July 1-Oct. 31
- Night closure for salmon and steelhead fishing only.
- Aug. 1-Dec. 31
- Anti-snagging rule.
- Trout
- Year-round
- Statewide min. size/daily limit. Except: Release wild cutthroat trout and wild rainbow trout.
- Other game fish
- Year-round
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
- Salmon and hatchery steelhead
- Apr. 1-June 30
- Min. size 12". Daily limit 2 salmon or 2 hatchery steelhead or 1 of each. Release wild Chinook.
- July 1-July 31
- Min. size 12". Daily limit 2 salmon. Release wild Chinook. Closed to fishing for or retaining steelhead.
- Aug. 1-Oct. 31
- Min. size 12". Daily limit 6 salmon including no more than 2 adults. Release all salmon other than hatchery Chinook and hatchery coho. Closed to fishing for or retaining steelhead.
- Nov. 1-Mar. 31
- Min. size 12". Daily limit 6 including no more than 2 adult salmon or 2 hatchery steelhead or 1 of each. Release all salmon other than hatchery Chinook and hatchery coho.
from County Rd. Bridge below the former location of the powerhouse to 400' below Big Brother Falls (river mile 16) CRC (508)
- All species
- Selective gear rules, except barbed hooks are allowed.
- Trout
- Sat. before Memorial Day-Oct. 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit. Except: Release wild cutthroat trout and wild rainbow trout.
- Other game fish
- Sat. before Memorial Day-Oct. 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
- Salmon and hatchery steelhead
- Sat. before Memorial Day-July 31
- Min. size 12". Daily limit 2 salmon or 2 hatchery steelhead or 1 of each. Release all salmon other than hatchery salmon.
- Aug. 1-Oct. 31
- Min. size 12". Daily limit 6 including no more than 2 adult salmon or 2 hatchery steelhead or 1 of each. Release all salmon other than hatchery salmon.
from Big Brother Falls downstream 400'
- All species
- CLOSED WATERS.
COLDWATER LAKE
Limited access available: contact National Volcanic Monument Headquarters 360- 449-7800 or 360-274-2114, for specific information
- All species
- Selective gear rules. Two-Pole not allowed. CLOSED WATERS all inlet and outlet streams.
- Trout
- Year-round
- Min. size 18". Daily limit 1.
- Other game fish
- Year-round
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
FAQ about Surprise Lakes fishing
- Brook trout - 2 members reported to have caught this fish
- @mr.mathers reported a nice Brook trout.
- @wdav reported a nice Brook trout.
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