Discover South Central Washington

Bass and walleye 

Many sections of the Columbia and Snake Rivers in south central Washington hold large walleye and smallmouth bass populations. Wintertime is usually a slow period for walleye compared to summer, but those caught are often larger. Ideal spots for winter walleye in the Tri-Cities area include the Snake River downstream to Badger Island and from McNary Dam downstream to Boardman. Smallmouth bass are often found in the mix.

There is no minimum size and no limit on the number of walleye, bass, or channel catfish anglers can keep while fishing in the Columbia and Snake rivers. Scooteney Reservoir southeast of Othello has a mix of yellow perch and walleye and can provide ice fishing opportunities when safe to do so.

Trout fishing 

Broodstock rainbow trout have been planted in several local lakes and will provide some opportunity for those willing to brave the cold. While these fish aren’t as plentiful as during our spring and summer plantings, their large size will reward those enduring frigid temperatures. Check the Catchable Trout Plant Reports page to see where these fish can be found. 

Columbia River steelhead fishing 

The Columbia River is open for limited steelhead fishing from The Dalles Dam upstream to the Washington/Oregon border. The lower section of the Hanford Reach from the I-182 Bridge upstream to old Hanford townsite powerline is open for steelhead (with adipose and right ventral fin clip). Check the Washington Sport Fishing Rules and see the WDFW website for additional information including emergency regulations. 

Ice fishing

Area lakes are still forming ice and may not be safe for ice fishing as of early January. If you choose to ice fish, please do so with extreme caution. WDFW is not able to monitor ice depth or condition, so we recommend that anglers cut test holes often as they work their way out on the ice to the spot they want to fish and to not even consider fishing on ice that isn’t at least four inches thick. WDFW’s ice fishing web page has much more information on ice fishing safety, as well as ice fishing tips, videos, and a list of good eastern Washington ice fishing lakes.

White sturgeon fishing 

Fishing is limited to catch-and-release only and can be good at times to fish for sturgeon in sections of the Columbia and Snake rivers. McNary Reservoir is open year-round for sturgeon except for a winter closure from the Hanford townsite to Vernita Bridge but limited to catch-and-release only. Use one single point barbless hook when fishing for sturgeon. Fishing at night is not allowed. Please review the Washington Sport Fishing Rules for additional restrictions on sturgeon fishing including the upstream section of the Hanford Reach.

Lake Umatilla, John Day Dam to McNary Dam, opens for sturgeon on Jan. 1. The daily limit is one. Only sturgeon with a fork length (tip of the snout to fork in the tail) between 43 and 54 inches can be retained. Check the WDFW website for in-season retention changes.

Whitefish

The winter whitefish season is open in the Yakima River between Sunnyside Dam and 3,500 feet below Roza Dam; Roza Dam to Easton Dam; the lower Cle Elum River; and the lower Naches River downstream of the confluence with the Tieton River. As in years past, the catch limit is 15 fish per day. The season runs from December 1 through the last day in February. Check the WDFW fishing regulation pamphlet for whitefish gear rules.

Hunters planning their late season hunts can check the regulations for start dates, and WDFW's Hunt Planner, which provides information on permit and general season hunts based on location, date, weapon choice, and more. You can also visit this page for the annual hunting prospects and sign up here for Hunter Education.

Waterfowl 

Statewide hunting seasons for ducks, coots, and snipe runs through Jan. 26, 2025. There are many resources on the WDFW website including our “Let’s Go Waterfowl Hunting” page where you can find resources on where to go waterfowl hunting; waterfowl hunting techniques; and waterfowl identification.

In Yakima and Kittitas counties, the best waterfowl hunting is found in the Lower Yakima Valley, especially on Yakama Nation lands, which has abundant opportunity along the Yakima River. The Yakama Nation’s Satus Wildlife Area is the most popular and open to hunting Wednesdays, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.

The Sunnyside Unit within the Sunnyside-Snake River Wildlife Area on WDFW-managed land has several wetlands. The Johnson wetland and Rice paddies wetlands are full and have hunting potential when weather changes move waterfowl down from the northern parts of the flyway. Contact the Sunnyside Wildlife area for information on water levels and ADA blinds.

There are many places to hunt ducks and geese in Benton and Franklin counties including locations on WDFW’s Windmill Ranch Unit, Mesa Lake Unit, Scooteney Reservoir, Sunnyside Wildlife Area units, and Bailie Memorial Youth Ranch. Many parts of the Columbia, Snake, and Yakima Rivers are also open to waterfowl hunting. Be mindful of city limits and Migratory Bird Closures (see the regulations (PDF): page 57). The Windmill Unit also has nine circles of corn that can provide field hunting opportunities. Hunting in the corn fields can be productive in the afternoons as the weather turns colder. There are also private lands hunting opportunities in Benton and Franklin Counties that are ideal goose hunting areas, look for properties that include irrigated agriculture circles. 

Upland game birds 

Snow conditions are below normal this year allowing good access. Hunters, however, should be prepared for changing conditions. Forest grouse hunting season is open through Jan. 15. The California quail, gray partridge, and pheasant seasons are also open until Jan. 15, while chukar is open through Jan. 31. You can find more information in this year’s Migratory Waterfowl and Upland Game Seasons and Rules pamphlet. 

Small game hunting 

The statewide bobcat, fox, raccoon, cottontail, and snowshoe hare season is open through Mar. 15. For details, go to the WDFW small game regulation webpage. Successful bobcat hunters need to observe new requirements for lower jaw submission.

Big game reports due 

Hunters who bought tags for black bear, deer, elk, or turkey must submit their reports on their hunting activities by Jan. 31, 2025, for each 2024 license, permit or tag. Hunters can file their reports online. See Reporting your harvest | Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife for more information.

Big Game Hunting Pamphlet photo contest

This year’s Big Game Hunting Rules and Regulations photo contest theme is “Hunters contributing to conservation.” We are looking for photos of live big game animals that you hunt. Submit your photos using the form below any time before Feb. 13. Winners will be announced later this spring. Visit the WDFW’s Big Game photo contest webpage. 

Herds return to Oak Creek Wildlife Area 

In winter at WDFW's Oak Creek Wildlife Area, elk are fed to help prevent elk-human conflict.  In addition to feeding, extensive fencing has been installed. The combinations of feeding and fencing together help to limit elk movement into adjacent agricultural lands, thus reducing agricultural damage. This feeding program inadvertently offers public wildlife-viewing and educational opportunities. 

There is a recorded informational message for visitors interested in learning about this program and viewing elk at 509-653-2390. Feeding has started for the season. There are typically some elk on the feed site all day, but the large numbers come in at the 1:30 p.m. feeding. A valid state Discover Pass or WDFW Vehicle Access Pass is required to park at the Wildlife Area. Visitors can purchase a one-day Discover Pass at the wildlife area with cash or check. Vehicle Access Passes are free with the purchase of certain fishing and hunting licenses.

Feeding wildlife

While WDFW feeds elk at Oak Creek to reduce impacts to area farmers, we discourage residents in urban and suburban areas from feeding wildlife in their yards. Although some people see this type of feeding as helping these animals, it can hurt them and potentially cause illness and death for animals as their digestive systems aren’t designed to process certain kinds of foods. Check WDFW’s page on wildlife feeding for more information. 

Bighorn sheep viewing 

The best viewing opportunities are the Yakima River Canyon along Highway 821 and on Clemans Mountain (along Hwy 410). Bighorn sheep are not currently being fed at the Oak Creek bighorn sheep feed site at Clemans Mountain, however sheep may still be visible from the parking area. 

Shed antlers 

January is a difficult time for wintering deer and elk, and we recommend that shed hunters collecting naturally shed deer and elk antlers postpone until May.  Winter closures are in effect Dec. 15 – May 1 in areas surrounding feed sites at the Oak Creek, Wenas, and L.T. Murray Wildlife Areas. This includes strict closures for all access including shed hunting.  The easiest antler hunting is, of course, where deer or elk concentrate in the winter. But if many antler hunters descend on that area before wintering animals have left, the disturbance can threaten their survival at the harshest time of year and push elk onto adjacent private property causing damage to fences and crops. Public lands across the state may have restrictions, so antler hunters should do their homework before going afield.

Migrating birds 

January is typically the time when migrating ducks and geese move through Washington from far-north locations seeking open water and warmer temperatures. The spectacle of waterfowl can be amazing when bad weather concentrates large numbers of birds. You can find scoters and other uncommon waterfowl species on larger rivers and waterways, as well as wintering gulls which have arrived in the region and can provide surprises for those with patience and skill in bird ID. Drake ducks are beginning to regain breeding plumages and numbers of snow and white-fronted geese will build this month along with familiar Canada geese. Look out for winter finches to appear at conifers and feeders. If you have never tried before, now is a great time to start putting out bird seed or suet feeders. Learn more about creating a wildlife friendly space. 

Avian influenza “Bird Flu”

With the annual wild bird migration underway, WDFW is seeing a resurgence in cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), commonly known as bird flu, this fall and winter.  Avian influenza occurs naturally among wild aquatic birds (ducks, geese, swans, gulls and terns, and shorebirds) and can infect poultry and other bird and animal species. The virus spreads among birds through saliva, nasal secretions, feces, and contaminated surfaces. Do NOT touch or move animals. Attempting to nurse a bird back to health or transport it to a wildlife rehabilitator can spread the virus to areas where it didn’t exist before. More on avian influenza can be found in this blog post. Please report sick or dead wild birds suspected of having avian influenza. Reporting sick or dead birds or other wildlife to WDFW’s online reporting tool can help the Department monitor the spread of viruses and notify members of the public to take precautions. Recent information on HPAI in Washington can be found in WDFW’s blog Avian influenza cases increase in Washington.

Wildlife area closures

If you enjoy the snow at the L.T. Murray Wildlife Area in Kittitas County on the Yakima River Unit outside of Easton, be aware that snow grooming of U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Road 41 will be limited this year due to damage to the bridge at Cole Creek. The bridge is closed as it is not safe for vehicles currently. Snow will only be groomed from the Easton reload area (the parking/unloading area for trucks with trailers) to the east side of the bridge. Grooming on the west side of the bridge ends at Stampede Pass. This grooming plan is for public safety and resource protection. Winter recreation on ungroomed trails is at your own risk. Please do not drive to the bridge as there is little space to park or turn around.

Bull Pasture Road, about nine miles north of Selah, is closed to vehicles until May 1, 2025, to protect wintering wildlife and prevent road damage during the wet season. Bull Pasture Road will be closed starting at the junction of Durr Road/Sheep Company Road and ends where it intersects with Bell Tell Road. The closure is for motorized use only; the area will be open to walk in, biking, horseback riding and other non-motorized use. This will be an annual closure. The area is used as winter range for approximately 500 elk and provides cover for upland birds, mule deer, Townsend Ground squirrel, burrowing owls, and many songbirds.

Leave your leaves on the ground or push off paths into natural spaces. Leaves, sticks, logs, and rock piles are life-saving cover for many of the smallest wildlife species, such insects and slugs, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. In winter, stay out of caves and other places wildlife might be hibernating to help them preserve essential energy. In the spring, skip mowing the lawn in the earliest months when blooms are scarce, so pollinators have more food.

To read reports published prior to 2023, visit the Biweekly Wildlife Program activity reports page.

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Photo by WDFW

Mike Livingston, the South Central Regional Director (Region 3) grew up fishing, hunting and playing in the forests of southeast Michigan. He received a bachelor’s degree in Conservation from Northern Michigan University, a bachelor’s degree in Fish and Wildlife Management from Michigan State University and a master’s in Wildlife Science from New Mexico State University.

Since 1996 Mike has worked in eastern Washington and held wildlife biologist positions with the Army’s Yakima Training Center, the Yakama Nation, and WDFW as District Wildlife Biologist in the Tri-Cities. In 2012, he was promoted to his current position as WDFW’s Region 3 Director. As Regional Director, he oversees operations in the region and gets to work on big collaborative conservation projects such as the Yakima Basin Integrated Plan. When not working, you can often find him outside with his: family, friends, dog, shotgun, fishing rod, and/or backpack.