Recreational Fishing in Eastern Washington Lakes

WDFW proposes to combine two separate rule petitions amending WAC 220-312-050 for recreational fishing rules in Eastern Washington. The first petition requests that WDFW remove the daily limit of 25 yellow perch in Fish Lake in Chelan County, which are overpopulated in this lake. Removing the daily limit will increase harvest rates and improve average size of currently-stunted yellow perch over time, improving the quality of the yellow perch fishery, as well as reduce competition with other game fish in the lake. The second petition requests that WDFW extend the recreational fishing seasons for all species in Park, Blue, and Deep Lakes in Grant County to allow fishing opportunity later into the fall when trout fishing is very productive. The season currently opens on the fourth Saturday in April and closes on September 30 each year. The extended season would close on October 31 each year instead.