Discover Eastern Washington

Hills and trees reflected in a lake

Eastern - Region 1

Customer service staff in the Spokane Regional Office are available for walk-in service 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Counties served
Asotin, Columbia, Ferry, Garfield, Lincoln, Pend Oreille, Spokane, Stevens, Walla Walla, Whitman
Office hours
Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. excluding legal holidays
Phone
509-892-1001
Email
TeamSpokane@dfw.wa.gov

2315 North Discovery Place
Spokane Valley, WA 99216-1566
United States

Director
Mike Kuttel, Jr.

Fishing tips and news

March 1 trout opener 

Image
Boy holds trout caught on opening day
Photo by WDFW

While many area lakes still have some amount of ice on them going into March, a handful of them participate in the early trout opener on Mar. 1. As the month progresses, ice will recede and WDFW hatchery staff will spend the month stocking lakes with rainbow trout. Find which lakes have been stocked by checking the WDFW Catchable trout plant reports web page. 

If you are ready to move on from ice fishing and start open water fishing and don’t want to wait for larger lakes, it’s no guarantee but Downs Lake in southwest Spokane County is usually the first to melt as it is just 12 feet deep. In addition to rainbows, Downs has a good largemouth bass fishery in early spring. 

Liberty Lake, in eastern Spokane County, stays iced over sometimes well into the month but is known for great brown trout fishing in March when it melts. Deer Lake, southeast of Chewelah, is best for brook and rainbow trout in earlier March, then lake trout later in the month when things start to warm up. 

Towards the end of March, Amber Lake in southwest Spokane County is consistently good for rainbow and cutthroat trout. Amber is under selective gear rules, and there is a one trout over 18 inches daily limit from Mar. 1 through Nov. 30. Also, boat motors are prohibited at Amber. 
 
At the W.T. Wooten Wildlife Area in southeast Washington’s Columbia County, the lakes are ice free going into March and there is no freezing weather in the foreseeable future. Blue, Spring, Rainbow, Deer, and Watson lakes were stocked in the fall so should have some good early spring fishing.  

Winter-only fishing lakes closing 

With the approach of spring comes the closing of winter only lakes, including Hatch Lake in Stevens County, Fourth of July Lake in Lincoln County, and Spokane County’s Hog Canyon Lake. They all close at the end of March.  

Image
A man holds up a trout he caught in winter at Lake Roosevelt
Photo by Photo courtesy John Bigley

Year-round fishing 

The waters of Lake Roosevelt, the reservoir of the Columbia River, will start warming up a little this month, which means fishing will

heat up. The spring drawdown of the lake by the Bureau of Reclamation often starts in March, depending on conditions, so call 509-754-7800 before heading out to make sure boat launches are accessible. 

New license reminder 

Mar. 31 marks the expiration of your annual fishing license and time to purchase a new 2023-2024 recreational fishing license. You can purchase online, at a WDFW regional office, or through hundreds of vendors statewide. A list of businesses that sell licenses is at the link. People 15 and older are required to have a license to fish. 

Boating safety 

With spring comes the start of the boating season. If you plan to drive a boat this year and haven’t already done it, get a jump on the season by completing the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission Boating Program’s boater safety education course. In Washington state, boaters who operate a vessel with a 15-horsepower engine or greater must be certified and carry a Boater Education Card to prove they passed an accredited boating safety education course.  

Aquatic invasive species prevention 

Image
A sign on the highway saying it is illegal to transport aquatic invasive species
Photo by WDFW

Don’t forget to clean, drain, and dry your boat every time you put it in and take it out of a body of water to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species. A handful of area lakes have clean, drain, dry (CD3) units to make it easy. The units have a vacuum to suck up and dispose of standing water and a brush and blower to remove plant fragments from boats and trailers.  
 
If you pass a boat check station, be sure to stop. It only takes a minute for a technician to do a quick exterior inspection to make sure there aren’t any invasive species on your craft that you’re taking with you to the lake. If WDFW’s invasive mussel sniffing dog is on duty, the check station process is even quicker. 

 

Image
WDFW's booth at the Big Horn Show in Spokane in 2023
Photo by WDFW

Big Horn Show 

Love all things fish, wildlife, and outdoors? The Inland Northwest Wildlife Council’s Big Horn Show is coming up Mar. 14-17 at the

Spokane Fair and Expo Center. Bring the kids to fish in the kid’s pond and stop by the WDFW booth to get fishing and hunting tips; talk with WDFW Police officers; and learn about the region’s fish, animals and birds. 

Hunting opportunities and news

Multi-season tags 

If you hunt deer and/or elk, March 31 is the deadline to enter the drawing for a 2024 multi-season tag, which can greatly increase your opportunity for success this year. The annual random drawing is in mid-April. Those whose names are drawn can purchase a special tag allowing them to participate in archery, muzzleloader, and modern firearm general hunting seasons for deer or elk. Winners who purchase the multi-season elk tag can participate in general elk hunting seasons in both eastern and western Washington and can choose any weapon type when applying for a special hunt permit. 

Multi-season applications can be purchased from authorized license dealers online at http://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov/ or by calling 866-246-9453. The application costs $7.10 for residents and $110.50 for nonresidents. A hunting license is not required to apply, but winners of the drawing must purchase one before they can purchase a multiple season tag. 

Spring Turkey 

Image
Photo of a man and women wearing camouflage knelling by a freshly harvested turkey with a river in the background.
Photo by Sally McKerney

Spring turkey season is right around the corner. While the general season doesn’t open until April 15, that gives you some time to start practicing your turkey calling and researching the best places to hunt in your area. WDFW has programs available to hunt private property and tips on hunting public lands. If you have a young person who plans to hunt this year, there is a youth-only spring turkey season that runs Apr. 1-7, 2024.  



Cougar Hunting 

A reminder that cougar season remains open until April 30. However, cougar hunters must check WDFW’s cougar hotline to verify their game management unit (GMU) is still open (based on quota numbers). That number is 1-866-364-4868 (press 2 after greeting) or visit WDFW's website prior to hunting. If you plan to hunt cougar after Mar. 31, you will need to purchase an updated 2024/25 hunting license. 

Small game hunting  

The statewide season for cottontail and snowshoe hare is open through March 15, as well as for bobcat and raccoons. For more information, visit the Small Bird & Small Game hunting webpage. 

Comment on proposed 2023-24 hunting seasons 

WDFW is accepting feedback on proposed rule changes to 2024-2026 hunting season regulations. You can submit public comments electronically, by phone, or by mail until March 25, or during a public hearing on March 26. 

Proposals included in this rule making are related to game management unit boundaries, landowner hunting permits, pelt inspection and sealing requirements, weapon and hunting attire requirements, trapping, and various rules related to big game, small game, and migratory gamebirds. More information and descriptions of each proposed rule change are available online

Hunter education 

Image
A volunteer teaching a hunter education course shows a young course participant details of a practice rifle on a table.
Photo by WDFW

The late winter/early spring lull between major hunting seasons is a great time to prepare and take the hunter education course if

you haven’t already. Or encourage friends and family members who hope to hunt next year to do so. These courses reinforce important firearm and hunting safety principles, hunting ethics, basic survival and first aid, wildlife identification and conservation. Anyone born after Jan. 1, 1972 must show proof of hunter education certification before purchasing their first Washington hunting license. For more information, visit the Hunter Education webpage. 

New license reminder 

March marks the end of your hunting license being valid and time to purchase your 2024-2025 hunting licenses. Licenses expire on Mar. 31 each year. 

Big Horn Show 

Image
WDFW's booth at the Big Horn Show in Spokane in 2023
Photo by WDFW

The Inland Northwest Wildlife Council’s Big Horn Show returns in March. Come see the trophy mounts, take the kids fishing in the kid’s pond, and swing by the WDFW booth to talk about all things fish, wildlife, and habitat. Also, check out seminars presented by WDFW staff. The show runs March 14-17 at the Spokane Fair and Expo Center. 

 

 

Image
A little girl holds a large elk antler above her head.
Photo by Chelsea Adkins

Shed Hunting 

Most ungulate species (deer, elk, and moose) have shed their antlers by this point in the winter and finding them can be a lot of fun.

However, ungulates are in their poorest condition and very sensitive to disturbance during these last few months of winter. Ideally, wait until April to go searching for shed antlers and at the very least, keep your dog on a leash and avoid areas with concentrations of ungulates. 

Wildlife watching and recreation

World Wildlife Day

Image
Wildlife watchers at Grays Harbor National Wildlife Refuge
Photo by Jason Wettstein
Wildlife watchers at Grays Harbor National Wildlife Refuge

March 3 is World Wildlife Day!  This makes it a great month to learn more about Washington’s wildlife. Washington’s ecosystem-rich lands support a variety of animals from slugs to whales. Did you know Washington has:  

  • 28 reptiles, 
  • 132 mammals, 
  • 25 amphibians,
  • 37 freshwater fish, 
  • 900 saltwater fish, Over 500 birds, and 
  • Over 20,000 species of invertebrates (from mussels to bees)!  

This variety of ecosystems and species is called biodiversity. Celebrate biodiversity, and Washington’s wildlife with your family this month by engaging in our family educational resources. From habitat at home activities to learning about invasive species, our family educational resources are a great way to get outdoors and celebrate Washington’s rich wildlife.  

Preventing negative wildlife interactions 

Smaller mammals like bats, raccoons, skunks, and marmots can become a nuisance at this time of year when they start to inhabit places like attics, crawl spaces, under porches, or corners of garages or storage sheds. Learn how to enjoy these wildlife neighbors without problems at WDFW’s Living with Wildlife webpages.   
  
With mild conditions in a lot of areas this winter, bear sightings are already occurring. And as March progresses and the weather continues to warm, we’ll see more hungry bears coming out of their dens. That means now is the time to prepare if you live in bear country. Put away items until next winter, like bird feeders, that could attract bears. Build a bear-proof garbage shed and construct electric fences around compost piles, chicken coops, and beehives before the bears find them. Remember to secure your livestock and pet feed too in a bear proof container, in a shed or within electric fencing. More information is available on the WDFW Living with Bears webpage.  

Image
WDFW's booth at the Big Horn Show in Spokane in 2023
Photo by WDFW

Big Horn Show 

The Inland Northwest Wildlife Council’s Big Horn Show is March 14-17 at the Spokane Fair and Expo Center! There’s lots to see and do at the show and be sure to stop by the WDFW booth to talk fishing, hunting, wildlife watching and more with us. We always love to hear about your outdoor adventures!  

Conserving species and habitats

Habitat at Home

Image
A house sparrow perches in front of the bird house mounted on a fence.
Photo by WDFW

Planning a spring-cleaning of an outdoor space? Here’s a few tips to support the wildlife!  Where possible, leave snags and fallen trees to provide habitat, incorporate logs into your landscaping for wildlife shelter, and save cleaning up the leaves and other yard debris until after our first full week of 50° weather – this allows beneficial overwintering insects to hatch or awaken. 

 

 

Meet your Regional Director - Mike Kuttel, Jr.

Image
Mike Kuttel, Jr
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.