Updates fishing rules for Lake Roosevelt, Spokane and Sanpoil arms

March 30, 2017

March 30, 2017

Updates fishing rules for Lake Roosevelt,
Spokane and Sanpoil arms

Action: Updates fishing regulations in the 2016-17 Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet for Lake Roosevelt and the Spokane and Sanpoil Arms of the 150-mile reservoir to protect wild native redband rainbow trout.

The correct fishing regulations include:

Sanpoil Arm (listed as Sanpoil River in the pamphlet): The Sanpoil Arm opens to fishing June 1, instead of April 1.

Lake Roosevelt from Grand Coulee Dam to the Little Dalles power line crossing, Spokane Arm and Sanpoil Arm: Only hatchery-produced trout, marked with a clipped adipose fin, can be retained. The daily catch limit is still five trout, not including kokanee. But there is no longer a limit on how many of those fish can exceed 20 inches, as is currently indicated in the WDFW fishing rules pamphlet.

Little Dalles power line crossing to the Canadian border: The daily catch limit is now only two trout (marked hatchery or unmarked wild), with a minimum size of 18 inches.

For the complete rule changes, see "Corrections to the pamphlet," posted at http://wdfw.wa.gov/publications/01818/2016_fishing_regulation_errata.pdf.

Reason for action: The 2016-17 Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet does not reflect fishing rule changes that took effect in December 2016. Those changes, approved by the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission, are intended to further protect redband rainbow trout at Lake Roosevelt, a Columbia River reservoir in northeast Washington. Redband trout are a subspecies of rainbow trout found in the Columbia River and its tributaries.

Information Contact: Chris Donley, Regional Fish Program Manager, (509) 892-1001, ext. 307.

Fishers must have a current Washington fishing license, appropriate to the fishery. Check the WDFW "Fishing in Washington" rules pamphlet for details on definitions and regulations. Fishing rules are subject to change. Check the WDFW Fishing hotline for the latest rule information at 360-902-2500, press 2 for recreational rules. For the Shellfish Rule Change hotline call toll free 866-880-5431.

Request this information in an alternative format or language at wdfw.wa.gov/accessibility/requests-accommodation, 833-885-1012, TTY (711), or CivilRightsTeam@dfw.wa.gov.