Customer service staff in the Spokane Regional Office are available for walk-in service 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
2315 North Discovery Place
Spokane Valley, WA 99216-1566
United States
Fishing tips and news
Celebrate Bass Week July 7-13
Both smallmouth and largemouth bass are plentiful in eastern Washington waters. With over 1,000 lakes containing bass
statewide, and some outstanding river fishing as well, we want to celebrate all the bass opportunities and talk all things bass.
Bass Week will highlight the best bass waters in Washington- including places to fish where a boat isn’t necessary, provide bass fishing tips, suggest the most effective tackle to try, and answer all your bass questions. As with every year during Bass Week, we will also be asking you to submit your best bass fishing photos to be featured on our Facebook and Instagram accounts.
Annual trout derby
Some great trout fishing opportunities are available around the area as well, and you can win a prize just for catching a trout! WDFW's lowland lake trout derby continues through Oct. 31. Anglers who catch one of more than 1,000 tagged fish can claim prizes provided by license dealers across the state. A list of lakes with prize fish and details on how to claim prizes is available on the derby website.
Other fishing
Tiger muskie fishing heats up along with the weather each summer and in WDFW’s Eastern Region 1 there are three lake options to catch muskie. Reports of these big fish being pulled out of Newman Lake in eastern Spokane County and Silver Lake in southwest Spokane County are already coming in, probably because they are smaller lakes and Newman is shallow, so they warm up fairly quickly. There hasn’t been much action reported at Curlew Lake in Ferry County yet but when the tiger muskie start biting there, they’re usually bigger than the other two lakes.
All three of those lakes also have yellow perch if you want to try for something different, and Newman also has black crappie. Walleye is another option. Lake Spokane (aka Long Lake) many has great early season walleye fishing. Lake Spokane also has rainbow trout, smallmouth and largemouth bass, yellow perch, and black crappie.
Help our loons
Take an extra step to make sure that your fishing gear doesn’t harm our local loons. Ingestion of small lead fishing tackle is the leading cause of death of the common loon. There are 13 lakes in Washington where loons breed and rear young. The use of lead fishing tackle is prohibited at these lakes to improve loon survival. Several of them are in Eastern Washington, so be aware if you fish the following lakes:
- Ferry and Swan lakes in Ferry County
- Bonaparte, Blue, and Lost lakes in Okanogan County
- Big Meadow, South Skookum, and Yocum lakes in Pend Oreille County
Information on lead-free alternatives, including manufacturers and retailers, is provided by LoonWatch.
Changes at Vernita Bridge Access Area
If you are one of the many people who uses the Vernita Bridge Access Area on the Columbia River near Mattawa during
the fall Chinook fishing season, please be aware WDFW is making changes to how the site can be used for the 2024 season. The area, owned by the Department of Energy (DOE) and managed under contract by WDFW, has experienced very heavy usage and it has become clear that designated parking areas and other changes are necessary to stop excessive habitat impacts and to align with WDFW’s contractual agreement with DOE to ensure the Department can continue to manage the site. The changes will also protect the natural shrubsteppe habitat and resources, improve human safety, and provide a more sustainable user experience. Read about the changes, and the reasons behind them, in our blog, Vernita Bridge; changes on the horizon.
WDFW to phase out recreational fishing and shellfishing hotlines
For several decades, WDFW provided phone hotlines where people could listen to prerecorded messages about fishing seasons and rule changes. In the years since, WDFW launched several new options to find accurate, up-to-date fishing information. In summer 2024, the hotlines for recreational fishing and shellfishing will be phased out. There are no changes to the commercial hotlines.
There are many places to find WDFW fishing regulations and information. We encourage anglers who used the prerecorded hotlines to take advantage of one of the web, mobile app, or other customer service phone options we offer. Visit our Fishing Hotlines Page to see the full list of new options and find more information.
Seasonal fire and shooting restrictions
Annual restrictions to activities that can start wildfires went into effect on July 1 on state wildlife and access areas. Restrictions prohibit visitors to eastern Washington WDFW-managed lands from:
- Making fires or campfires, including those in fire rings. Personal camp stoves and lanterns fueled by propane, liquid petroleum, or liquid petroleum gas are allowed.
- Discharging firearms for target shooting or other recreational purposes, aside from lawful hunting, unless otherwise posted, with the following exception: Target shooting is permitted from sunrise to 10 a.m. through Aug. 15, only at two Department shooting ranges:
- Methow Shooting Range, Methow Wildlife Area Unit
- Asotin Creek Shooting Range, Asotin Creek Wildlife Area Unit. Note: Starting Aug. 16 through Sept. 15, restrictions prohibit discharging firearms for target shooting anywhere on WDFW-managed lands (including the previously mentioned target shooting ranges) in eastern Washington, unless otherwise posted.
- Smoking, except in an enclosed vehicle. Do not throw lit cigarettes out your window.
- Welding and operating chainsaws, including the use of an acetylene torch or other open flame.
- Operating a motor vehicle away from developed roads. Parking is permitted within designated parking areas, including developed campgrounds and trailheads; and in areas without vegetation that are within 10 feet of roadways.
All restrictions remain in effect until further notice except for the target shooting restriction, which runs through Sept. 15. Any changes to these regulations will be posted to WDFW’s wildfire information web page. Fireworks are prohibited year-round on all WDFW-managed lands around the state. Throwing a lit cigarette or any other burning material from a motor vehicle on a state highway is also prohibited year-round.
Hunting opportunities and news
Sign up for hunter education
With only a handful of hunting seasons open until fall, now is a good time to get your hunter education class out of the way if you haven’t already and plan to hunt in the fall. There are a variety of classes available in all areas of the state. Visit WDFW’s Hunter Education webpage for options and more information.
Help needed to solve a poaching case
Your help is needed to find the person or persons who illegally killed a mule deer doe sometime on or before May 29, 2024 in the Suncrest area of Stevens County in WDFW’s Eastern Region 1. The incident, which involved the shooting of a pregnant doe with an arrow, occurred out of season and can have negative effects on the deer population in the area. Additionally, the arrow was affixed with a tip not normally used to hunt or kill deer, leading to an unnecessarily slow and painful death.
The deer died off north Suncrest Drive near Highway 291 but could have been shot at a different location in the general area. If you have information on this incident, there are several ways you can report it:
- By calling 877-933-9847
- By sending an email to reportpoaching@dfw.wa.gov
- If you wish to remain anonymous, please send a text tip to 847411 (TIP411) by entering WDFWTIP, followed by a space, and then entering your report. Messages are submitted through a third-party operating system and WDFW has no access to any identifiable information.
Information that leads to a conviction could be eligible for a cash reward or hunting bonus points. Thank you for your help ensuring safe and ethical opportunities while conserving our big game natural resources.
Wildlife watching and recreation
Northeast Washington grizzly sighting
A bear was observed in early June breaking into a chicken coop in an area just north of Chewelah in northeast Washington. It was confirmed to be the same grizzly bear that was trapped last September in the Onion Creek area north of Colville. After that capture, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and WDFW released the bear at an approved relocation site on the Colville National Forest in the Selkirk Grizzly Bear Recovery Zone in Northeast Pend Oreille County. The bear returned to Stevens County in late spring and has been involved in just this incident at this time.
Grizzly bears are listed as “Threatened” under the federal Endangered Species Act, and the USFWS manages them with WDFW staff providing conflict assistance in Washington. The bear appears to remain wary of people and is searching for easy sources of food in addition to normal seasonal bear foods. Black bears are also active this time of year and searching for easy food sources. Community members are asked to remove or secure all bear attractants on their properties and protect small livestock and chickens with electric fencing.
The Sheriff’s Office, WDFW and USFWS are collaborating on how to effectively handle this particular bear. Please report grizzly sightings to WDFW at 360-902-2936 Option 1. Tips on living with grizzly bears are on the Be Bear Aware - Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee (IGBC) webpage. WDFW is also getting many reports of black bears getting into people’s garbage cans, bird feeders, chicken coops, beehives, and more around the region. Please take steps to avoid attracting bears to your property, including:
- Keep garbage in a garage or enclosed structure if possible,
- Take down bird feeders,
- Store livestock food like chicken scratch inside,
- Feed pets inside,
- Clean and store barbecue grills where bears can’t get to them,
If camping, keep a clean camp to avoid attracting bears. Store coolers, all food, and garbage in a locked vehicle or bear box (if available at campsite) anytime you’re away from your camp spot. Adhere to all other food storage requirements for the land you are camping on. Remember to carry bear spray (and know how to use it) while hiking just in case you have an unexpected encounter. More information on being “bear aware” is on WDFW’s Living with Bears webpage.
Don’t touch baby animals
Every year at this time, WDFW gets many calls from people concerned about “abandoned” fawns and other baby wild
animals. Just because an animal is alone does not mean it has been abandoned. Many species leave their babies while they forage nearby, to avoid attracting carnivores to their young with their scent. The best thing you can do to help any wild animal is to leave it alone but here are a few other things you can do to help if you find an animal in genuine distress.
Seasonal fire and shooting restrictions
Annual restrictions to activities that can start wildfires went into effect on July 1 on state wildlife and access areas. Restrictions prohibit visitors to eastern Washington WDFW-managed lands from:
- Making fires or campfires, including those in fire rings. Personal camp stoves and lanterns fueled by propane, liquid petroleum, or liquid petroleum gas are allowed.
- Discharging firearms for target shooting or other recreational purposes, aside from lawful hunting, unless otherwise posted, with the following exception: Target shooting is permitted from sunrise to 10 a.m. through Aug. 15, only at two Department shooting ranges:
- Methow Shooting Range, Methow Wildlife Area Unit
- Asotin Creek Shooting Range, Asotin Creek Wildlife Area Unit
- Note: Starting Aug. 16 through Sept. 15, restrictions prohibit discharging firearms for target shooting anywhere on WDFW-managed lands (including the previously mentioned target shooting ranges) in eastern Washington, unless otherwise posted.
- Smoking, except in an enclosed vehicle. Do not throw lit cigarettes out your window.
- Welding and operating chainsaws, including the use of an acetylene torch or other open flame.
- Operating a motor vehicle away from developed roads. Parking is permitted within designated parking areas, including developed campgrounds and trailheads; and in areas without vegetation that are within 10 feet of roadways.
All restrictions remain in effect until further notice except for the target shooting restriction, which runs through Sept. 15. Any changes to these regulations will be posted to WDFW’s wildfire information web page. Fireworks are prohibited year-round on all WDFW-managed lands around the state. Throwing a lit cigarette or any other burning material from a motor vehicle on a state highway is also prohibited year-round.
Wildlife Program biweekly reports
To read reports published prior to 2023, visit the Biweekly Wildlife Program activity reports page.
2024
Meet your Regional Director - Mike Kuttel, Jr.
Mike Kuttel Jr. is the Eastern Region (Region 1) Regional Director. Kuttel has been with WDFW since 2015 in two statewide policy positions focused on fish and wildlife conservation and providing recreational opportunities on public and private lands through federal farm bill conservation programs and partnering with the U.S. Forest Service and Washington State Department of Natural Resources on shared stewardship of forests.
Previously, he worked for conservation districts, the Washington State Conservation Commission, and Washington State Department of Ecology. He has a bachelor’s degree in environmental science. Kuttel is a lifelong Washington resident and has lived on both sides of the Cascades. He grew up in southwest Washington fishing and hunting. In his free time, Mike enjoys hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, and foraging for mushrooms and berries with family.