When is largemouth bass season in Washington?

Washington keeps largemouth bass open to fishing year-round for the 2026 regulation year — there is no closed season, though the daily bag and size limits below still apply every day.

What is the Washington bag limit for largemouth bass?

The Washington daily bag limit for largemouth bass is Lakes / ponds / reservoirs: 5 / day, with a protective slot — only largemouth under 12 in may be retained, except 1 over 17 in may be kept. Rivers / streams / beaver ponds: no size or daily limit. Columbia River mouth → Chief Joseph Dam: all daily + size limits suspended (WDFW invasive-removal rule).. The possession limit is No possession limit in rivers / streams / beaver ponds or the Columbia invasive-removal reach; on lake waters the daily limit governs harvest.. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.

What size largemouth bass can you keep in Washington?

The Washington size rule for largemouth bass is Lakes / ponds / reservoirs protective slot — retain only largemouth under 12 in, plus a single fish over 17 in. No size limit in rivers / streams / beaver ponds or the Columbia mainstem invasive-removal reach.. Slot limit: Lakes / ponds / reservoirs — only largemouth bass under 12 in may be retained within the 5-fish daily limit, except 1 fish over 17 in may be kept (protective slot to build trophy bass).. Trophy rule: WDFW's lake-water 12-in / 1-over-17-in protective slot is designed to grow trophy largemouth on Potholes Reservoir + Moses Lake + the Columbia Basin seep lakes + the western-WA lowland lakes (Lake Washington + Lake Sammamish + Silver Lake) by funneling harvest to sub-12-in fish while protecting the 12–17 in class..

Do you need a license to fish for largemouth bass in Washington?

Yes. Washington requires a valid fishing license to fish for largemouth bass, with the usual exemptions for young children, state free-fishing days, and some senior or disabled-veteran categories. A license is valid only in the state that issued it, so non-residents need a Washington license — compare resident and non-resident Washington fees on the state regulations page below.

Do specific Washington waters have different largemouth bass rules?

Yes. 5 named Washington waters carry rules that override the statewide largemouth bass regulation, including Columbia River, Potholes Reservoir, Moses Lake, and 2 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

2026 regulation year

Washington Largemouth bass 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules

Micropterus salmoides

Last updated May 30, 2026

Washington largemouth bass fishing centers on the warmwater lowland lakes + Columbia Basin Project reservoirs + seep lakes. Top waters include Potholes Reservoir + Moses Lake + Banks Lake + the Columbia Basin seep lakes (Grant County) + Sprague Lake + Long Lake, plus western-Washington lowland lakes like Lake Washington + Lake Sammamish + Silver Lake (Cowlitz County). WDFW manages largemouth on lakes with a protective harvest slot — anglers may keep only bass under 12 in, except a single trophy fish over 17 in, within a 5-fish daily limit. The rule is designed to build bigger bass by directing harvest to small fish while protecting the 12–17 in spawning + growth class. In rivers / streams / beaver ponds, and on the Columbia mainstem from the mouth to Chief Joseph Dam under the invasive-removal rule, there is no size or daily limit (largemouth, like smallmouth + walleye + channel catfish, are non-native predators of ESA-listed juvenile salmon + steelhead). There is no closed bass season — largemouth are open year-round statewide.

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Season

Open year-round Open year-round statewide (no closed bass season). Lakes / ponds / reservoirs 5 / day with a protective slot (only bass under 12 in retained except 1 over 17 in); rivers / streams / beaver ponds no size or daily limit; the Columbia mainstem from the mouth to Chief Joseph Dam has all bass limits suspended for invasive removal.

Bag & possession

Daily bag: Lakes / ponds / reservoirs: 5 / day, with a protective slot — only largemouth under 12 in may be retained, except 1 over 17 in may be kept. Rivers / streams / beaver ponds: no size or daily limit. Columbia River mouth → Chief Joseph Dam: all daily + size limits suspended (WDFW invasive-removal rule).
Possession: No possession limit in rivers / streams / beaver ponds or the Columbia invasive-removal reach; on lake waters the daily limit governs harvest.

Size, slot, trophy rules

Size: Lakes / ponds / reservoirs protective slot — retain only largemouth under 12 in, plus a single fish over 17 in. No size limit in rivers / streams / beaver ponds or the Columbia mainstem invasive-removal reach.
Slot: Lakes / ponds / reservoirs — only largemouth bass under 12 in may be retained within the 5-fish daily limit, except 1 fish over 17 in may be kept (protective slot to build trophy bass).
Trophy rule: WDFW's lake-water 12-in / 1-over-17-in protective slot is designed to grow trophy largemouth on Potholes Reservoir + Moses Lake + the Columbia Basin seep lakes + the western-WA lowland lakes (Lake Washington + Lake Sammamish + Silver Lake) by funneling harvest to sub-12-in fish while protecting the 12–17 in class.

Gear restrictions

Hook-and-line; bait, lures, and flies all permitted on most bass waters
Live bait restricted on listed bull trout + salmon-steelhead conservation reaches
No daily or size limit applies on the Columbia mainstem from the mouth to Chief Joseph Dam and on rivers / streams / beaver ponds statewide (WDFW invasive-removal rule)
WDFW Fishing License required ages 15+ ($29.50 res Freshwater / $124 NR Freshwater)
Confirm current-year WDFW Sport Fishing Regulations for water-specific exceptions + emergency rules

Named water-body overrides

Where statewide rules differ on specific Washington waters:

Columbia River
All daily + size limits on largemouth bass suspended from the mouth upstream 545 mi to Chief Joseph Dam (WDFW invasive-removal rule effective March 3)
Potholes Reservoir
Columbia Basin Project reservoir — premier WA largemouth water; statewide lake slot rule 5 / day, retain only bass under 12 in plus 1 over 17 in
Moses Lake
Columbia Basin warmwater lake — statewide lake slot rule 5 / day, retain only bass under 12 in plus 1 over 17 in
Lake Washington + Lake Sammamish
Western-WA urban lowland lakes — statewide lake slot rule 5 / day, retain only bass under 12 in plus 1 over 17 in
Columbia Basin seep lakes (Grant County)
Grant County seep + desert lakes — statewide lake slot rule 5 / day, under 12 in plus 1 over 17 in; some carry selective-gear or seasonal rules, verify per-lake exceptions

Official source

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) publishes the authoritative 2026 Washingtonfishing regulations. Always verify the current rule before fishing — emergency closures and in-season changes can override what's published here.

The largemouth bass rules on this page are sourced from Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW)'s official largemouth bass regulation page.

Visit official Washington fishing regulations →

Emergency-order channel

Largemouth bass closures, slot-limit changes, and harvest pauses are posted to Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife's emergency-order feed — check it before any Washington trip during the active season.

Frequently asked questions

When is largemouth bass season in Washington?: Washington keeps largemouth bass open to fishing year-round for the 2026 regulation year — there is no closed season, though the daily bag and size limits below still apply every day.
What is the Washington bag limit for largemouth bass?: The Washington daily bag limit for largemouth bass is Lakes / ponds / reservoirs: 5 / day, with a protective slot — only largemouth under 12 in may be retained, except 1 over 17 in may be kept. Rivers / streams / beaver ponds: no size or daily limit. Columbia River mouth → Chief Joseph Dam: all daily + size limits suspended (WDFW invasive-removal rule).. The possession limit is No possession limit in rivers / streams / beaver ponds or the Columbia invasive-removal reach; on lake waters the daily limit governs harvest.. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
What size largemouth bass can you keep in Washington?: The Washington size rule for largemouth bass is Lakes / ponds / reservoirs protective slot — retain only largemouth under 12 in, plus a single fish over 17 in. No size limit in rivers / streams / beaver ponds or the Columbia mainstem invasive-removal reach.. Slot limit: Lakes / ponds / reservoirs — only largemouth bass under 12 in may be retained within the 5-fish daily limit, except 1 fish over 17 in may be kept (protective slot to build trophy bass).. Trophy rule: WDFW's lake-water 12-in / 1-over-17-in protective slot is designed to grow trophy largemouth on Potholes Reservoir + Moses Lake + the Columbia Basin seep lakes + the western-WA lowland lakes (Lake Washington + Lake Sammamish + Silver Lake) by funneling harvest to sub-12-in fish while protecting the 12–17 in class..
Do you need a license to fish for largemouth bass in Washington?: Yes. Washington requires a valid fishing license to fish for largemouth bass, with the usual exemptions for young children, state free-fishing days, and some senior or disabled-veteran categories. A license is valid only in the state that issued it, so non-residents need a Washington license — compare resident and non-resident Washington fees on the state regulations page below.
Are there gear restrictions for largemouth bass in Washington?: Yes. In Washington, largemouth bass fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; bait, lures, and flies all permitted on most bass waters; Live bait restricted on listed bull trout + salmon-steelhead conservation reaches; No daily or size limit applies on the Columbia mainstem from the mouth to Chief Joseph Dam and on rivers / streams / beaver ponds statewide (WDFW invasive-removal rule); WDFW Fishing License required ages 15+ ($29.50 res Freshwater / $124 NR Freshwater); Confirm current-year WDFW Sport Fishing Regulations for water-specific exceptions + emergency rules.
Do specific Washington waters have different largemouth bass rules?: Yes. 5 named Washington waters carry rules that override the statewide largemouth bass regulation, including Columbia River, Potholes Reservoir, Moses Lake, and 2 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

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