Northwest Fishing Reports

I know this has been discussed before. I did a couple searches on the forum, but couldn't find an answer.

If a lake is not in the reg book, is it considered year round? I want to say that the answer was yes based off what I have seen here, but I wanted to double check before I go out and end up with a ticket.

yes

and I'd call the WDFW in case the name of the lake is different than what you know it by, if it's a small lake or pond and everyone uses a 'local' name.

lakes not listed in the book are year round, anything goes fishing with regular retention rules, and have no WDFW launch area.

Or..... they are private.

From the 2012 Regs:
There are over 7,500 lakes, reservoirs, and ponds (excluding beaver ponds), in Washington State waters unlisted within this pamphlet, that are open to fishing for game fish (except Dolly Varden /Bull Trout and GRASS CARP) year-round.
These year-round fishing opportunities are regulated under the Statewide Freshwater Rules as listed on pages 16-17 with the following exceptions:
• seasonal waters listed under Lake Special Rules pages 59-69, and 85-95
• waters within tribal reservation lands
• waters within national park boundaries (not national forests)
• within boundaries of federal military installations

Note: Unlisted rivers, streams, and beaver ponds fall under statewide rules except the Puget Sound, Strait, and Coastal Rivers.
By definition, the vast majority of rivers, creeks and streams located in Western Washington are considered Puget Sound, Strait, and Coastal Rivers.

G-Man wrote:From the 2012 Regs:
There are over 7,500 lakes, reservoirs, and ponds (excluding beaver ponds), in Washington State waters unlisted within this pamphlet, that are open to fishing for game fish (except Dolly Varden /Bull Trout and GRASS CARP) year-round.
These year-round fishing opportunities are regulated under the Statewide Freshwater Rules as listed on pages 16-17 with the following exceptions:
• seasonal waters listed under Lake Special Rules pages 59-69, and 85-95
• waters within tribal reservation lands
• waters within national park boundaries (not national forests)
• within boundaries of federal military installations

Note: Unlisted rivers, streams, and beaver ponds fall under statewide rules except the Puget Sound, Strait, and Coastal Rivers.
By definition, the vast majority of rivers, creeks and streams located in Western Washington are considered Puget Sound, Strait, and Coastal Rivers.

Right at the top of page 5 under the heading "Unlisted Lakes, Ponds, Reservoirs".

Great. Thanks guys.

It is better to be safe than sorry or end up with a ticket there's so many rules hard to keep track of it all I keep a regs book on me in the car however I wasn't aware their were lakes not listed in the regs lol I need to get out more

nickknows wrote:I wasn't aware their were lakes not listed in the regs lol I need to get out more

Think about every single body of water within the alpine lakes. There are 1000's. Not enough paper to list them all. Grant it, they are not typically ice free year round, just saying that you cannot include every lake in the regs. If a lake is over 1 acre, is it a lake, or a seasonal pond? too many varialbes.