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Deer Lake

Fishing spots, fishing reports, and regulations in

Washington, United States

5.0·7 catches

Top fish species at Deer Lake

Rainbow trout
Rainbow trout
Steelhead
Steelhead
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Deer Lake fishing reports

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Rainbow trout

1 in · 3 lb

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Rainbow trout

length · weight

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Rainbow trout

length · weight

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Rainbow trout

length · weight

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Steelhead

length · weight

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length · weight

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General info

Deer Lake is a lake located in Columbia County, Washington, United States. It is most popular for fishing Rainbow trout and Steelhead.

Location

46°18′18.5″N 117°39′9″W
Directions

Fishing regulations at Deer 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

Season open: year-round
Rainbow trout

Rainbow trout

Regulation boundaryWA Washington State Waters
Bag limit2

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.

Min size8" (Total Length)

No person shall harvest any individual fish less than the minimum size limit.

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.

Aggregate limit2

The maximum number of individual fish across an aggregate group of species legally harvested per harvester per day.

Restrictions & requirements

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. 

Additional information
The combined daily limit for an angler that fishes in both rivers and lakes on the same day is 5 trout, no more than 2 may be from rivers. Brown Trout, Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout, Golden Trout, Tiger Trout, and Grayling:In rivers, streams, and beaver ponds: Min. size 8". Daily limit 2.In lakes, ponds, and reservoirs: No min. size.Daily limit 5. When fishing with bait, all trout that are lawful to possess and are equal to or greater than the minimum size are counted as part of the daily limit whether kept or released.For more information please see State of Washington Fishing Regulations
Edibility
Excellent
Synonyms
Oncorhynchus mykiss
Location specific information
TOUCHET RIVER FORKSNorth and South Forks upstream including both forks, Robinson Fork and Wolf Fork CRC (657)All speciesSelective gear rules.All game fishSat. before Memorial Day-Aug. 31Statewide min. size/daily limit. WENAHA RIVER TRIBUTARIES(in Washington) CRC (665)All speciesSelective gear rules.All game fishSat. before Memorial Day-Aug. 31Statewide min. size/daily limit. BIG FOUR LAKEAll speciesTwo-Pole not allowed. Fly fishing only. Fishing from any floating device prohibited.TroutYear-roundMin. size 14". Daily limit 2.Other game fishYear-roundStatewide min. size/daily limit. BLUE LAKEAll speciesFishing from any floating device prohibited.All game fishYear-roundStatewide min. size/daily limit. CURL LAKEAll speciesFishing from any floating device prohibited.All game fishSat. before Memorial Day- Oct. 31Statewide min. size/daily limit. DAYTON PONDAll speciesTwo-Pole not allowed. Open for juvenile anglers, senior anglers and anglers with a disability who possess a designated harvester companion card only.All game fishYear-roundStatewide min. size/daily limit. DEER LAKEAll speciesFishing from any floating device prohibited.All game fishMar. 1-Nov. 30Statewide min. size/daily limit. RAINBOW LAKEAll speciesFishing from any floating device prohibited.All game fishMar. 1-Nov. 30Statewide min. size/daily limit. SPRING LAKEAll speciesFishing from any floating device prohibited.All game fishYear-roundStatewide min. size/daily limit. WATSON LAKEAll speciesFishing from any floating device prohibited.All game fishMar. 1-Nov. 30Statewide min. size/daily limit. TOUCHET RIVER TRIBUTARIESall tributaries except North Fork, South Fork, Robinson Fork, and Wolf ForkAll speciesCLOSED WATERS. TUCANNON RIVERfrom mouth upstream to Tucannon Hatchery Rd. Bridge CRC (653)All speciesBarbless hooks required (salmon and steelhead only).Steelhead (hatchery)Sat. before Memorial Day-July 31Statewide min. size/daily limit.Aug. 1-Apr. 15Min. size 20". Daily limit 3.Other game fishSat. before Memorial Day-Oct. 31Statewide min. size/daily limit.Nov. 1-Apr. 15Catch-and-release.from Tucannon Hatchery Bridge upstream to 500' above the Rainbow Lake intakeAll speciesCLOSED WATERS.from 500' above Rainbow Lake intake to Cow Camp Bridge CRC (653)All speciesSelective gear rules.All game fishSat. before Memorial Day-Aug. 31Statewide min. size/daily limit.from Cow Camp Bridge upstreamAll speciesCLOSED WATERS. TUCANNON RIVER TRIBUTARIESall tributaries except Pataha CreekAll speciesCLOSED WATERS.
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Local laws and licenses

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Reviews of Deer Lake

5.0
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1 ratings

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FAQ about Deer Lake fishing

📍 Where is Deer Lake located?
Deer Lake is a lake located in Columbia County, Washington, United States. Its coordinates are:
46°18′18.5″N 117°39′9″W
.
🎣 Where on Deer Lake is it best to fish?
Find the best fishing spots on Deer Lake by looking at where other anglers have caught fish. This can easily be done in the where it is also possible to see big fish potential and how good fishing is right now along with Garmin® depth maps.
🐟 What species are in Deer Lake?
The most common species in Deer Lake are:
  • Rainbow trout - 4 members reported to have caught this fish
  • Steelhead - 1 members reported to have caught this fish
📢 What are the latest Deer Lake fishing reports?
The latest Deer Lake fishing reports are:
🪪 Do I need a fishing license to fish at Deer Lake?

Fishing in Washington requires a valid state fishing license for anglers. Licenses include resident and non-resident, annual, short-term, and combination options, purchasable online or at authorized vendors.

In Washington, no fishing license is required for anglers under 15. Residents 70 and older qualify for a discounted license. A few other exceptions worth knowing:

  • Free fishing days — most states designate 1–2 weekends a year where anyone can fish without a license

  • Tribal waters — tribal members fishing on tribal land operate under separate tribal regulations

  • Private ponds — landowners fishing their own water typically don't need a license

Non-residents usually pay more for a license than residents. Some species also require an extra stamp or endorsement on top of your base license.

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