When is walleye season in Washington?

Washington keeps walleye 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 walleye?

The Washington daily bag limit for walleye is Lakes / ponds / reservoirs: 8 / day, 12 in minimum, only 1 walleye over 22 in may be retained. Rivers / streams / beaver ponds: no size or daily limit. Columbia River mouth → Chief Joseph Dam (545 mi): all daily + size limits suspended effective March 3 (WDFW invasive-removal rule) to increase harvest of non-native walleye that prey on ESA-listed juvenile salmon + steelhead.. 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 walleye can you keep in Washington?

The Washington size rule for walleye is 12 in minimum in lakes / ponds / reservoirs, with only 1 walleye over 22 in retained (protects trophy breeders). No size limit in rivers / streams / beaver ponds or the Columbia mainstem invasive-removal reach.. Slot limit: Lakes / ponds / reservoirs — 12 in minimum and only 1 walleye over 22 in may be retained within the 8-fish daily limit; no size protection in rivers or the Columbia invasive-removal reach.. Trophy rule: Lake Roosevelt (Grand Coulee Dam reservoir) is the country's premier interior-Columbia walleye fishery; Banks Lake + Potholes Reservoir + Moses Lake round out the eastern-WA walleye tier. The lake-water 12-in / 1-over-22-in rule protects big breeders, while the Columbia + Snake river reaches are managed for removal (no limits) to protect ESA-listed salmon + steelhead smolts..

Do you need a license to fish for walleye in Washington?

Yes. Washington requires a valid fishing license to fish for walleye, 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 walleye rules?

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

2026 regulation year

Washington Walleye 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules

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Last updated May 30, 2026

Washington walleye fishing is one of the West's best, centered on the Columbia River system. Lake Roosevelt — the 150-mile Grand Coulee Dam reservoir co-managed with the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation + the Spokane Tribe of Indians — is the state's premier walleye water, with Banks Lake + Potholes Reservoir + Moses Lake + the Columbia + Snake mainstems all producing trophy fish. Walleye are non-native in Washington; on the Columbia mainstem from the mouth 545 miles upstream to Chief Joseph Dam, WDFW suspended all walleye size + daily limits effective March 3 to encourage harvest of this efficient predator of ESA-listed juvenile salmon + steelhead — the same invasive-removal framework that covers bass + channel catfish on the river. On lakes / ponds / reservoirs the statewide rule is 8 / day with a 12 in minimum and only 1 walleye over 22 in retained, protecting the largest breeders while keeping a generous harvest on abundant eating-size fish. There is no closed walleye season — walleye are open year-round statewide.

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Season

Open year-round Open year-round statewide. Lakes / ponds / reservoirs 8 / day with a 12 in minimum and only 1 over 22 in; rivers / streams / beaver ponds no size or daily limit; the Columbia mainstem from the mouth to Chief Joseph Dam has all walleye limits suspended for invasive removal (effective March 3).

Bag & possession

Daily bag: Lakes / ponds / reservoirs: 8 / day, 12 in minimum, only 1 walleye over 22 in may be retained. Rivers / streams / beaver ponds: no size or daily limit. Columbia River mouth → Chief Joseph Dam (545 mi): all daily + size limits suspended effective March 3 (WDFW invasive-removal rule) to increase harvest of non-native walleye that prey on ESA-listed juvenile salmon + steelhead.
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: 12 in minimum in lakes / ponds / reservoirs, with only 1 walleye over 22 in retained (protects trophy breeders). No size limit in rivers / streams / beaver ponds or the Columbia mainstem invasive-removal reach.
Slot: Lakes / ponds / reservoirs — 12 in minimum and only 1 walleye over 22 in may be retained within the 8-fish daily limit; no size protection in rivers or the Columbia invasive-removal reach.
Trophy rule: Lake Roosevelt (Grand Coulee Dam reservoir) is the country's premier interior-Columbia walleye fishery; Banks Lake + Potholes Reservoir + Moses Lake round out the eastern-WA walleye tier. The lake-water 12-in / 1-over-22-in rule protects big breeders, while the Columbia + Snake river reaches are managed for removal (no limits) to protect ESA-listed salmon + steelhead smolts.

Gear restrictions

Hook-and-line; jigging, trolling, and bait all permitted on most walleye 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:

Lake Roosevelt
Country's premier interior-Columbia walleye fishery — Grand Coulee Dam reservoir above Chief Joseph Dam (outside the no-limit reach); statewide lake rule 8 / day, 12 in min, only 1 over 22 in; co-managed with the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation + Spokane Tribe of Indians
Banks Lake
Grand Coulee pump-storage reservoir — statewide lake rule 8 / day, 12 in min, only 1 over 22 in; noted WDFW walleye tournament venue
Columbia River
All daily + size limits on walleye suspended from the mouth upstream 545 mi to Chief Joseph Dam (WDFW invasive-removal rule effective March 3); non-native walleye prey on ESA-listed juvenile salmon + steelhead
Snake River
River reach — no size or daily limit (invasive-removal framework); walleye produced in the Lower Granite + Little Goose + Lower Monumental + Ice Harbor dam reservoirs
Potholes Reservoir + Moses Lake
Columbia Basin Project reservoirs — eastern-WA walleye tier; statewide lake rule 8 / day, 12 in min, only 1 over 22 in

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

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Emergency-order channel

Walleye 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 walleye season in Washington?: Washington keeps walleye 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 walleye?: The Washington daily bag limit for walleye is Lakes / ponds / reservoirs: 8 / day, 12 in minimum, only 1 walleye over 22 in may be retained. Rivers / streams / beaver ponds: no size or daily limit. Columbia River mouth → Chief Joseph Dam (545 mi): all daily + size limits suspended effective March 3 (WDFW invasive-removal rule) to increase harvest of non-native walleye that prey on ESA-listed juvenile salmon + steelhead.. 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 walleye can you keep in Washington?: The Washington size rule for walleye is 12 in minimum in lakes / ponds / reservoirs, with only 1 walleye over 22 in retained (protects trophy breeders). No size limit in rivers / streams / beaver ponds or the Columbia mainstem invasive-removal reach.. Slot limit: Lakes / ponds / reservoirs — 12 in minimum and only 1 walleye over 22 in may be retained within the 8-fish daily limit; no size protection in rivers or the Columbia invasive-removal reach.. Trophy rule: Lake Roosevelt (Grand Coulee Dam reservoir) is the country's premier interior-Columbia walleye fishery; Banks Lake + Potholes Reservoir + Moses Lake round out the eastern-WA walleye tier. The lake-water 12-in / 1-over-22-in rule protects big breeders, while the Columbia + Snake river reaches are managed for removal (no limits) to protect ESA-listed salmon + steelhead smolts..
Do you need a license to fish for walleye in Washington?: Yes. Washington requires a valid fishing license to fish for walleye, 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 walleye in Washington?: Yes. In Washington, walleye fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; jigging, trolling, and bait all permitted on most walleye 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 walleye rules?: Yes. 5 named Washington waters carry rules that override the statewide walleye regulation, including Lake Roosevelt, Banks Lake, Columbia River, and 2 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

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