2026 regulation year
Rufus Woods Lake 2026 — Washington Fishing Regulations
Washington statewide rules apply unless overridden below.
Last updated
Rufus Woods Lake carries a special-regulation overlay on top of Washington's 2026 fishing rules — covering Rainbow trout. Verify the agency booklet before launching: in-season changes are not yet wired to this page.
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Per-species rules on Rufus Woods Lake
Country's premier mid-Columbia triploid rainbow trout fishery; WA state-record rainbow trout 29 lb 6 oz Rufus Woods 2002; triploid stocking via Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation + WDFW + Chelan PUD + Douglas County PUD joint program
Official source
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) publishes the authoritative 2026 Washington fishing regulations. Special-regulation lakes and rivers are listed in the agency booklet — always verify before fishing.
Visit official Washington fishing regulations →
Emergency-order channel
In-season closures, slot-limit changes, and run-count-driven 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.
Other special-regulation waters in Washington
- Aeneas Lake
- Baker River + Baker Lake
- Banks Lake
- Big Twin Lake
- Blue Lake (Sinlahekin Wildlife Area, Okanogan County)
- Chopaka Lake
- Cle Elum + Bumping + Rimrock (Tieton) + Keechelus + Kachess Yakima Cascade reservoir tier
- Columbia Basin seep lakes (Grant County)
- Columbia River
- Dry Falls Lake (Sun Lakes)
- Dusty Lake (Quincy Wildlife Area)
- Grande Ronde River
Frequently asked questions
- What special fishing regulations apply at Rufus Woods Lake?
- Rufus Woods Lake carries one special-regulation overlay that overrides Washington's statewide 2026 rules, covering Rainbow trout. It reads: "Country's premier mid-Columbia triploid rainbow trout fishery; WA state-record rainbow trout 29 lb 6 oz Rufus Woods 2002; triploid stocking via Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation + WDFW + Chelan PUD + Douglas County PUD joint program." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.
- Do I need a fishing license to fish Rufus Woods Lake?
- Yes. Rufus Woods Lake is in Washington, so a valid Washington fishing license is required just as it is anywhere else in the state, issued by Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). The special regulations on this page change the bag, size, slot, or gear rules for Rufus Woods Lake; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Washington rules.
- Do Rufus Woods Lake's special rules replace Washington's statewide limits?
- Only where they conflict. Washington's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Rufus Woods Lake by default; the overlays above replace the matching statewide rule for the species or gear they name, while everything not specifically overridden still follows the statewide rule. When a water-body rule and the statewide rule disagree, the water-body rule wins.
- Which species have special rules on Rufus Woods Lake?
- Rainbow trout has a water-body-specific rule on Rufus Woods Lake, each linking to its full Washington regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Washington limits.