When is steelhead (anadromous rainbow trout) season in Washington?

Summer-run June 1 – December 31 Columbia mainstem + Snake + Yakima + Wenatchee + Methow + Cowlitz + Lewis + listed tribs; winter-run December 1 – April 30 Olympic Peninsula coastal + Puget Sound tribs + Lower Columbia tribs. Those are the 2026 Washington dates; always confirm against Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) before a trip, because an emergency order can shift an opener with little notice.

What is the Washington bag limit for steelhead (anadromous rainbow trout)?

The Washington daily bag limit for steelhead (anadromous rainbow trout) is 1 / day adult summer steelhead + 1 / day adult winter steelhead under Catch Record Card + Steelhead Report-Restoration Card ($9.46); Puget Sound steelhead DPS + Lower Columbia + Snake River Basin steelhead DPS all federally Threatened ESA only hatchery-marked retained. The possession limit is Reach-specific possession; Catch Record Card recording on every harvested fish under joint Columbia River Compact catch-allocation tracking. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.

What size steelhead (anadromous rainbow trout) can you keep in Washington?

The Washington size rule for steelhead (anadromous rainbow trout) is 20 in min adult on Columbia mainstem + Snake; 24 in min Olympic Peninsula coastal + Puget Sound tribs; reach-specific minimums elsewhere. Trophy rule: Columbia River OR/WA joint compact country's premier summer + winter steelhead anadromous fishery (~600,000 steelhead returning annually); Snake River Basin steelhead DPS migrate 500+ miles from Pacific upstream (longest anadromous fish migration in lower 48); Olympic Peninsula coastal rivers (Hoh + Quinault + Queets + Sol Duc + Bogachiel + Calawah + Quillayute) country's premier coastal wild-winter-steelhead fishery (most-concentrated wild winter-steelhead returns in lower 48); Yakima River 214-mile mainstem country's premier interior-Columbia summer-run steelhead Quality Management fishery (WDFW-distinctive blue-ribbon QM); Puget Sound steelhead DPS + Lower Columbia + Snake River Basin steelhead DPS all federally Threatened ESA only hatchery-marked retained; 50/50 treaty-tribal + state recreational allocation under US v. Washington 1974 Boldt Decision.

Do you need a license to fish for steelhead (anadromous rainbow trout) in Washington?

Yes. Washington requires a valid fishing license to fish for steelhead (anadromous rainbow trout), 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 steelhead (anadromous rainbow trout) in Washington?

Yes. In Washington, steelhead (anadromous rainbow trout) fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; trolling permitted on Columbia mainstem + Puget Sound + ocean + listed reaches; Barbless single hook required statewide on listed steelhead reaches; Artificial-fly-and-lure only + barbless single-hook on Yakima Quality Management Cle Elum to Roza Dam reach + listed Olympic Peninsula coastal reaches; Wild-clipped steelhead (no adipose-fin clip) must be released on Puget Sound + Lower Columbia + Snake River Basin + listed tribs (federally Threatened ESA only hatchery-marked retained); Coastal Salmon-Steelhead Stamp required for non-tribal anglers on Olympic Peninsula coastal listed reaches; Catch Record Card recording required + Steelhead Report-Restoration Card ($9.46 res/NR) required to retain steelhead; WDFW Fishing License required ages 15+ ($29.50 res Freshwater / $124 NR Freshwater); Confirm current-year WDFW Sport Fishing Regulations for in-season emergency-closure updates under joint Columbia River Compact.

Do specific Washington waters have different steelhead (anadromous rainbow trout) rules?

Yes. 5 named Washington waters carry rules that override the statewide steelhead (anadromous rainbow trout) regulation, including Columbia River, Snake River, Olympic Peninsula coastal rivers, and 2 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

2026 regulation year

Washington Steelhead (anadromous rainbow trout) 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules

Oncorhynchus mykiss

Last updated May 27, 2026

Washington steelhead fishery is country-defining (alongside OR + ID + BC + AK) — country's premier summer + winter steelhead anadromous fishery. The Columbia River (under the OR/WA Columbia River Compact administered jointly by WDFW + ODFW since 1918) carries ~600,000 steelhead returning annually through the summer-run June 1 – December 31 season + winter-run December 1 – April 30 season. The Snake River (under the OR/WA/ID Snake River reciprocal compact) + lower Snake tribs (Tucannon + Touchet + Walla Walla + Clearwater + Salmon + Grande Ronde) carry the country's premier inland summer-run Snake River Basin Steelhead DPS (federally Threatened ESA) — anadromous fish that migrate 500+ miles from the Pacific upstream to the Snake + Salmon + Clearwater tribs, the longest anadromous fish migration in the lower 48. The Olympic Peninsula coastal rivers (Hoh River + Quinault River + Queets River + Sol Duc River + Bogachiel River + Calawah River + Quillayute River — Clallam + Jefferson + Grays Harbor Counties — Quileute Tribal Reservation + Quinault Indian Nation + Hoh Tribe + Makah Tribe + Olympic National Park 922,650-acre federal NPS park overlay) carry the country's premier coastal wild-winter-steelhead fishery — most-concentrated wild winter-steelhead returns in the lower 48 + Coastal Salmon-Steelhead Stamp required for non-tribal anglers on listed reaches + winter steelhead 1 / day adult under Catch Record Card + Steelhead Report-Restoration Card ($9.46 res/NR). The Skagit + Sauk + Stillaguamish + Snohomish + Skykomish + Snoqualmie + Green + Puyallup + Nisqually + Skokomish + Dungeness + Elwha + Hood Canal north Puget Sound river system carries the Puget Sound steelhead DPS (federally Threatened ESA since 2007 — only hatchery-marked retained — WDFW + Skagit River System Cooperative + Tulalip Tribes + Stillaguamish Tribe + Sauk-Suiattle Tribe + Upper Skagit Tribe + Swinomish Tribe + Muckleshoot Tribe + Puyallup Tribe + Nisqually Tribe + Skokomish Tribe joint harvest allocation under US v. Washington 1974 Boldt Decision — 50/50 treaty-tribal + state recreational allocation). The Yakima River (214-mile mainstem — Cascade Range headwaters at Keechelus Lake downstream to the Columbia at Richland) carries the country's premier interior-Columbia summer-run steelhead Quality Management fishery — WDFW-distinctive Yakima Quality Management catch-and-release-only on Cle Elum to Roza Dam reach + artificial-fly-and-lure only + barbless single-hook required. The Wenatchee + Methow + Entiat + Okanogan mid-Columbia tribs carry the country's premier interior-Columbia mid-Columbia summer-run steelhead return under Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation joint harvest allocation. The Cowlitz + Lewis + Kalama + Toutle + Klickitat Lower Columbia tribs carry the Lower Columbia River Steelhead DPS (federally Threatened ESA — only hatchery-marked retained). WDFW + USFWS + Yakama + Umatilla + Warm Springs + Nez Perce four Columbia River treaty tribes joint harvest allocation under US v. Oregon federal-court-ordered allocation framework. WDFW stocks ~6 million smolt steelhead annually statewide via Skagit + Snohomish + Skykomish + Sol Duc + Quinault + Forks Creek + Naselle + Cowlitz + Toutle + Kalama + Lewis + Klickitat + Yakima + Spokane + Colville State Fish Hatcheries (country's largest hatchery system alongside OR + CA + ID + CO) + USFWS Quinault NFH + USFWS Makah NFH. Open seasonally under Catch Record Card + Steelhead Report-Restoration Card.

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Season

Summer-run June 1 – December 31 Columbia mainstem + Snake + Yakima + Wenatchee + Methow + Cowlitz + Lewis + listed tribs; winter-run December 1 – April 30 Olympic Peninsula coastal + Puget Sound tribs + Lower Columbia tribs.

June 1 – December 31Columbia mainstem + Snake + Yakima + Wenatchee + Methow + Cowlitz + Lewis + listed inland tribs
Summer-run season — Snake River Basin steelhead DPS migrate 500+ miles from Pacific upstream (longest anadromous fish migration in lower 48)
December 1 – April 30Olympic Peninsula coastal (Hoh + Quinault + Queets + Sol Duc + Bogachiel + Calawah + Quillayute) + Puget Sound tribs (Skagit + Sauk + Stillaguamish + Snohomish + Skykomish + Snoqualmie + Green + Puyallup + Nisqually + Skokomish + Hood Canal) + Lower Columbia tribs
Winter-run season — Olympic Peninsula most-concentrated wild winter-steelhead returns in lower 48

Bag & possession

Daily bag: 1 / day adult summer steelhead + 1 / day adult winter steelhead under Catch Record Card + Steelhead Report-Restoration Card ($9.46); Puget Sound steelhead DPS + Lower Columbia + Snake River Basin steelhead DPS all federally Threatened ESA only hatchery-marked retained
Possession: Reach-specific possession; Catch Record Card recording on every harvested fish under joint Columbia River Compact catch-allocation tracking

Size, slot, trophy rules

Size: 20 in min adult on Columbia mainstem + Snake; 24 in min Olympic Peninsula coastal + Puget Sound tribs; reach-specific minimums elsewhere
Trophy rule: Columbia River OR/WA joint compact country's premier summer + winter steelhead anadromous fishery (~600,000 steelhead returning annually); Snake River Basin steelhead DPS migrate 500+ miles from Pacific upstream (longest anadromous fish migration in lower 48); Olympic Peninsula coastal rivers (Hoh + Quinault + Queets + Sol Duc + Bogachiel + Calawah + Quillayute) country's premier coastal wild-winter-steelhead fishery (most-concentrated wild winter-steelhead returns in lower 48); Yakima River 214-mile mainstem country's premier interior-Columbia summer-run steelhead Quality Management fishery (WDFW-distinctive blue-ribbon QM); Puget Sound steelhead DPS + Lower Columbia + Snake River Basin steelhead DPS all federally Threatened ESA only hatchery-marked retained; 50/50 treaty-tribal + state recreational allocation under US v. Washington 1974 Boldt Decision

Gear restrictions

Hook-and-line; trolling permitted on Columbia mainstem + Puget Sound + ocean + listed reaches
Barbless single hook required statewide on listed steelhead reaches
Artificial-fly-and-lure only + barbless single-hook on Yakima Quality Management Cle Elum to Roza Dam reach + listed Olympic Peninsula coastal reaches
Wild-clipped steelhead (no adipose-fin clip) must be released on Puget Sound + Lower Columbia + Snake River Basin + listed tribs (federally Threatened ESA only hatchery-marked retained)
Coastal Salmon-Steelhead Stamp required for non-tribal anglers on Olympic Peninsula coastal listed reaches
Catch Record Card recording required + Steelhead Report-Restoration Card ($9.46 res/NR) required to retain steelhead
WDFW Fishing License required ages 15+ ($29.50 res Freshwater / $124 NR Freshwater)
Confirm current-year WDFW Sport Fishing Regulations for in-season emergency-closure updates under joint Columbia River Compact

Named water-body overrides

Where statewide rules differ on specific Washington waters:

Columbia River
Summer steelhead 1 / day adult June 1 – December 31; winter steelhead 1 / day adult December 1 – April 30; OR/WA joint reciprocal compact; ~600,000 steelhead returning annually
Snake River
Summer steelhead 1 / day adult; Snake River Basin Steelhead DPS federally Threatened ESA only hatchery-marked retained; anadromous fish migrate 500+ miles from Pacific (longest in lower 48)
Olympic Peninsula coastal rivers
Country's premier coastal wild-winter-steelhead fishery; most-concentrated wild winter-steelhead returns in lower 48; winter steelhead 1 / day adult under Catch Record Card + Steelhead Report-Restoration Card + Coastal Salmon-Steelhead Stamp required for non-tribal anglers
Yakima River
Country's premier interior-Columbia summer-run steelhead Quality Management fishery; WDFW-distinctive Yakima Quality Management catch-and-release-only on Cle Elum to Roza Dam reach + artificial-fly-and-lure only + barbless single-hook required
Skagit + Sauk + Stillaguamish + Snohomish + Skykomish + Snoqualmie + Green + Puyallup + Nisqually + Skokomish + Hood Canal Puget Sound tribs
Puget Sound steelhead DPS federally Threatened ESA since 2007 only hatchery-marked retained; 50/50 treaty-tribal allocation under US v. Washington 1974 Boldt Decision

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 steelhead (anadromous rainbow trout) rules on this page are sourced from Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW)'s official steelhead (anadromous rainbow trout) regulation page.

Visit official Washington fishing regulations →

Emergency-order channel

Steelhead (anadromous rainbow trout) 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 steelhead (anadromous rainbow trout) season in Washington?: Summer-run June 1 – December 31 Columbia mainstem + Snake + Yakima + Wenatchee + Methow + Cowlitz + Lewis + listed tribs; winter-run December 1 – April 30 Olympic Peninsula coastal + Puget Sound tribs + Lower Columbia tribs. Those are the 2026 Washington dates; always confirm against Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) before a trip, because an emergency order can shift an opener with little notice.
What is the Washington bag limit for steelhead (anadromous rainbow trout)?: The Washington daily bag limit for steelhead (anadromous rainbow trout) is 1 / day adult summer steelhead + 1 / day adult winter steelhead under Catch Record Card + Steelhead Report-Restoration Card ($9.46); Puget Sound steelhead DPS + Lower Columbia + Snake River Basin steelhead DPS all federally Threatened ESA only hatchery-marked retained. The possession limit is Reach-specific possession; Catch Record Card recording on every harvested fish under joint Columbia River Compact catch-allocation tracking. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
What size steelhead (anadromous rainbow trout) can you keep in Washington?: The Washington size rule for steelhead (anadromous rainbow trout) is 20 in min adult on Columbia mainstem + Snake; 24 in min Olympic Peninsula coastal + Puget Sound tribs; reach-specific minimums elsewhere. Trophy rule: Columbia River OR/WA joint compact country's premier summer + winter steelhead anadromous fishery (~600,000 steelhead returning annually); Snake River Basin steelhead DPS migrate 500+ miles from Pacific upstream (longest anadromous fish migration in lower 48); Olympic Peninsula coastal rivers (Hoh + Quinault + Queets + Sol Duc + Bogachiel + Calawah + Quillayute) country's premier coastal wild-winter-steelhead fishery (most-concentrated wild winter-steelhead returns in lower 48); Yakima River 214-mile mainstem country's premier interior-Columbia summer-run steelhead Quality Management fishery (WDFW-distinctive blue-ribbon QM); Puget Sound steelhead DPS + Lower Columbia + Snake River Basin steelhead DPS all federally Threatened ESA only hatchery-marked retained; 50/50 treaty-tribal + state recreational allocation under US v. Washington 1974 Boldt Decision.
Do you need a license to fish for steelhead (anadromous rainbow trout) in Washington?: Yes. Washington requires a valid fishing license to fish for steelhead (anadromous rainbow trout), 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 steelhead (anadromous rainbow trout) in Washington?: Yes. In Washington, steelhead (anadromous rainbow trout) fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; trolling permitted on Columbia mainstem + Puget Sound + ocean + listed reaches; Barbless single hook required statewide on listed steelhead reaches; Artificial-fly-and-lure only + barbless single-hook on Yakima Quality Management Cle Elum to Roza Dam reach + listed Olympic Peninsula coastal reaches; Wild-clipped steelhead (no adipose-fin clip) must be released on Puget Sound + Lower Columbia + Snake River Basin + listed tribs (federally Threatened ESA only hatchery-marked retained); Coastal Salmon-Steelhead Stamp required for non-tribal anglers on Olympic Peninsula coastal listed reaches; Catch Record Card recording required + Steelhead Report-Restoration Card ($9.46 res/NR) required to retain steelhead; WDFW Fishing License required ages 15+ ($29.50 res Freshwater / $124 NR Freshwater); Confirm current-year WDFW Sport Fishing Regulations for in-season emergency-closure updates under joint Columbia River Compact.
Do specific Washington waters have different steelhead (anadromous rainbow trout) rules?: Yes. 5 named Washington waters carry rules that override the statewide steelhead (anadromous rainbow trout) regulation, including Columbia River, Snake River, Olympic Peninsula coastal rivers, and 2 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

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