Discover Eastern Washington

Free Fishing Weekend

June 8-9 is the annual Free Fishing Weekend in Washington State; a great time to take the kids, friends, or neighbors

fishing who may not have done it before. Fishing licenses are not required to fish, nor are vehicle access passes or Discover Passes required to use WDFW water access areas or Washington State Park lands. This year a valid fishing license will be required on Free Fishing Weekend for anyone 15 or older to harvest any fish species requiring a catch record card (including salmon, steelhead, sturgeon, and halibut) or shellfish on free fishing weekend.

Trout Derby

What’s better than fishing for free? Winning a prize for doing it! We’re celebrating 25 years of WDFW’s Trout Derby. It’s simple and there is no fee to participate or pre-registration required. Just catch a fish with an orange tag through its’ fin now through October and collect your prize. More than 100 Washington lakes were stocked with tagged fish. To find out which, go the Derby web page. More than 100 participating businesses donated over 1,000 prizes valued at more than $54,000

Other fishing

Lake Roosevelt has great summer fishing, including kokanee, walleye, smallmouth bass, and rainbow trout. WDFW, in partnership with area tribes, stocks the reservoir with hundreds of thousands of rainbows every spring so when the water warms up around June is a great time to get out to catch them. 

Curlew Lake in Ferry County also has stocked rainbow trout but in spring is known for perch fishing as the perch move into the shallows, looking for warmer water. Fishing a jig tipped with a chunk of worm or night crawler under a slip-bobber 12 to 18 inches off the bottom in 6 to 10 feet of water can be a great way to catch a stringer-full.  

Sprague Lake, on the Lincoln-Adams county line, has good-sized rainbow trout and largemouth bass, as does Eloika Lake in north Spokane County, and Liberty Lake southeast of Spokane Valley. Liberty also has crappie, perch, and brown trout.

On the south end of the region, the lakes in the W.T. Wooten Wildlife Area are open and always popular– Blue, Deer, Spring, Watson, Curl, and Rainbow lakes.

Rainbow Lake treatment

Rainbow Lake on the W.T. Wooten Wildlife Area will be closed to the public June 11 and 12 for a contractor to treat the lake to prevent future cyanobacteria, commonly known as blue-green algae, blooms. A chemical called Phoslock will be used that binds with phosphorus in the water column, making it settle on the bottom of the lake and become benign. While Phoslock does not have known harmful effects to fish, wildlife, humans, or pets, the lake will be closed so that applicators can move freely around the lake to do their work.  

Tiger muskie fishing

Three WDFW Eastern Region lakes were stocked with tiger muskie in late May- Silver, Newman, and Curlew. While the stocked fish (300 in Silver, 760 in Newman, and 300 in Curlew) are small now, holdovers from the past few years should be getting pretty big. Called the “fish of a thousand casts,” (for a reason) tiger muskie grow big, are challenging to fish for, and put up a fight when hooked. Information on other lakes across the state with these big, toothy fish and how to fish for them is on the WDFW tiger muskie web page.

Lead free lakes

As we really get into the fishing season, a reminder that 12 Washington lakes have restrictions on using lead tackle, including in WDFW’s Region 1. These rules prohibit the use of lead weights and jigs that measure an inch and a half or less along the longest axis. They are aimed at protecting loons as Ingestion of small lead fishing tackle is the leading cause of known mortalities of the common loon. Lakes with these restrictions in Eastern Washington include:

• 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
• Pierre Lake in Stevens County

In addition, the use of artificial flies containing lead at Long Lake (fly gear only) in Ferry County is prohibited. Information on lead-free alternatives, including manufacturers and retailers, is available from LoonWatch.

LeClerc Creek rotenone treatment

In June, date to be determined, WDFW will treat Upper West Branch LeClerc Creek in Pend Oreille County with rotenone, a naturally occurring pesticide commonly used to remove undesirable and illegally stocked fish species (in this case eastern brook trout) from lakes and streams. The presence of brook trout has led to Westslope cutthroat trout population declines throughout their range due to competition between the two species. Following treatment of approximately eight miles of stream habitat, native Cutthroat Trout sourced from the project area will be reintroduced to their natal stream.

Invasive Species Check Station

Whether you’re fishing, skiing, kayaking, or paddleboarding, if you take a watercraft of any kind out on the water this summer be sure to stop if you pass a boat check station. Zebra and quagga mussels, milfoil and other invasive species can be transferred from one water body to another on boats and equipment if you don’t clean, drain, and dry every time after leaving the water.

Properly decontaminating boats can prevent hundreds of millions of dollars in environmental damage by organisms that invade ecosystems and can negatively impact water quality, power and irrigation systems, native wildlife, and recreation opportunities.

There are four WDFW boat check stations in Washington: on I-90 just west of the state line with Idaho, on I-90 near Cle Elum, at 13766 US-12, Building 21 in Clarkston, and on U.S. 395 near the Tri Cities. State law requires you to stop for a quick external inspection if you are transporting a watercraft and pass one of these stations.

2025-26 Big game hunting regulations 

Hard copies of the 2025 Washington Big Game Hunting Regulations are available now at locations across the state.

Visit your local license dealer or WDFW office to pick up a copy! The pamphlet includes rules and requirements for hunting deer, elk, black bear, cougar, mountain goat, moose, bighorn sheep, and turkey. It is also available as a downloadable PDF document.  

CWD rule changes 

WDFW recently approved new rules aimed at limiting the spread of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in Washington, including making CWD testing mandatory in all of WDFW’s Eastern Region, requiring CWD testing for salvaged deer and elk in all of the Eastern Region, applying transport restrictions to all of the Eastern Region, and making baiting and feeding of deer, elk, and moose illegal statewide. Those rules have been spelled out in detail on WDFW’s website. More information on CWD is on WDFW’s CWD webpage.  

Spring turkey reports 

Spring wild turkey season ended May 31, so it’s time to submit your spring turkey report, even if you plan to hunt turkeys again this fall. Reports are required before January 31, 2026, whether you were successful in harvesting a turkey or not. Information in these reports is used to help monitor hunter effort, distribution, harvest, and trends. Although the reporting period is open until Jan. 31 for both spring and fall seasons, WDFW recommends completing your spring report while your memory is fresh. Hunters who do not fulfill their tag in the spring must submit reports for both spring and fall by the Jan. 31 deadline. Go to the Licensing System webpage to submit your report.  

Special permit results 

Drawing results will be available in late June for hunters who applied for special big-game hunting permits for upcoming fall seasons. Drawing results will be posted in your WILD account at WDFW’s Licensing System webpage. Winners will also be notified by mail or email. 

Wildlife feeding

Per a new WDFW rule, it is illegal to feed deer, elk, and moose in Washington, or do any kind of wildlife feeding that draws those species together. This is in an effort to discourage animals from congregating as they can spread disease, including chronic wasting disease (CWD), when animals gather in groups. Information on CWD can be found on the WDFW CWD web page.

Don’t touch fawns!

A reminder to leave deer fawns, baby birds, and other young wildlife alone if you find them without a parent. Many people think animals found alone have been abandoned, but most of the time the parents are nearby. Deer, for instance, leave their young for hours at a time to forage and to avoid attracting predators with their own body scent. The best thing you can do if you find an animal is to leave it alone, especially in WDFW’s Eastern Region. Allegedly abandoned young animals often end up with wildlife rehabilitators. In Eastern Region, rehabilitators can no longer accept fawns, as they can be carrying and spreading chronic wasting disease (CWD). Picking up a fawn in Eastern Region can literally be a death sentence for it. For more information, see our latest blog on What to do if you encounter common wildlife babies this spring.

Be bear aware

With camping season here, a reminder to keep a clean camp. Bears have extremely sensitive noses and can smell food or trash from a long distance. If available where you are camping, use bear-resistant trash containers to stash your trash. If they are full or unavailable, double bag your trash and lock it in your trunk. Never leave food or trash outside while sleeping or away from your camp.

Store food, beverages, and toiletries in bear-resistant food lockers. If not an option, leave these items in your trunk or vehicle. Don’t bring anything with an odor into your tent, including food, beverages, scented products, gum, toothpaste, sunscreen, or insect repellent. And always carry bear spray and know how to use it when out in the woods. More information on avoiding conflict with bears can be found on WDFW’s living with bears web page.

Urban bears

Bears can also be a nuisance in neighborhoods close to green spaces. Every spring, WDFW receives calls about bears too close for comfort to human homes. If you live in bear country, take down bird feeders, secure trash, and protect chickens and other small livestock with electric fences before bears find them.

If you have garbage pickup service, put garbage out shortly before the truck arrives—not the night before- and if you don’t, take it to the dump on a regular basis rather than letting trash build up.

Keep garbage cans with tight-fitting lids in a shed, garage, or fenced area and if bears are common in your area, consider investing in a commercially available bear-resistant garbage container. Many solid waste companies offer them.

Invasive Species Check Station

If you take a watercraft of any kind out on the water this summer- including fishing boats, ski boats, kayaks, or paddleboards- be sure to stop if you pass a boat check station. Zebra and quagga mussels, milfoil and other invasive species can be transferred from one water body to another on boats and equipment if you don’t clean, drain, and dry every time after leaving the water. 

Properly decontaminating boats can prevent hundreds of millions of dollars in environmental damage by organisms that invade ecosystems and can negatively impact water quality, power and irrigation systems, native wildlife, and recreation opportunities.

There are four WDFW boat check stations in Washington: on I-90 just west of the state line with Idaho, on I-90 near Cle Elum, at 1420 W. Port Drive in Clarkston, and on U.S. 395 near the Tri Cities. State law requires you to stop for a quick external inspection if you are transporting a watercraft and pass one of these stations.

Wildlife watching

As you begin your outdoor adventures this summer, be sure to respect wildlife you encounter. A simple trick to make sure you’re not too close to wildlife is to follow the “rule of thumb”:  

1. Hold up your thumb in a hitchhiker fashion.  
2. Hold out your arm in front of you and place your thumb in line with your vision over the animal you are watching. If the pad of your thumb covers the animal, you are at a safe viewing distance. If not, back away until you are at a safer distance.  
3. If the animal still seems disturbed and is altering its natural behaviors, continue to distance yourself from the animal. 

More ethical and safe viewing tips and tricks are on the WDFW website.

Habitat at Home 

Summer is the perfect season to start transforming your outdoor space into a thriving wildlife habitat!  WDFW’s Habitat at Home program helps you create spaces that support local species while making your outdoor area more vibrant and sustainable. Plus, you can certify your habitat and proudly display a sign showing your commitment to conservation. 

You don’t need a yard to get started- small spaces like apartment balconies or community areas like HOA’s and schoolyards can also qualify. Turn your space into a wildlife haven! 

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

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Photo by WDFW

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.