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Bield:Fish
Fish stocking schedule

Washington fish stocking schedule 2026.

Year-RoundWashington Department of Fish and Wildlife

Washington stocks over a million trout annually across the state's network of lakes — opening day on the fourth Saturday in April is one of the largest single-day fishing events in the country. The state also operates major coastal salmon and steelhead smolt programs.

Official source

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Stocking Report

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife publishes the authoritative Washington stocking schedule — Weekly updates in Searchable database format. For this week's actual stocking locations, dates, and volumes, view the official report directly.

View official Washington stocking report

This page summarizes the Washington stocking program for planning purposes. The agency report is the authoritative source — verify before any trip.

Primary stocked species in Washington

Typical stocking pattern by species. Heavy fill marks primary stocking months; moderate fill marks possible stocking. Verify exact dates against the official report.

  • Rainbow TroutOncorhynchus mykiss
    JanJan — moderate stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesFebFeb — moderate stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesMarMar — moderate stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesAprApr — moderate stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesMayMay — moderate stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesJunJun — moderate stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesJulJul — moderate stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesAugAug — moderate stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesSepSep — moderate stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesOctOct — moderate stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesNovNov — moderate stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesDecDec — moderate stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inches
    Typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inches
  • Brown TroutSalmo trutta
    JanJan — moderate stocking Brown Trout typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inchesFebFeb — moderate stocking Brown Trout typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inchesMarMar — moderate stocking Brown Trout typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inchesAprApr — moderate stocking Brown Trout typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inchesMayMay — moderate stocking Brown Trout typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inchesJunJun — moderate stocking Brown Trout typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inchesJulJul — moderate stocking Brown Trout typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inchesAugAug — moderate stocking Brown Trout typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inchesSepSep — moderate stocking Brown Trout typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inchesOctOct — moderate stocking Brown Trout typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inchesNovNov — moderate stocking Brown Trout typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inchesDecDec — moderate stocking Brown Trout typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inches
    Typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inches
  • Brook TroutSalvelinus fontinalis
    JanJan — moderate stocking Brook Trout typical size: 8–11 inch catchableFebFeb — moderate stocking Brook Trout typical size: 8–11 inch catchableMarMar — moderate stocking Brook Trout typical size: 8–11 inch catchableAprApr — moderate stocking Brook Trout typical size: 8–11 inch catchableMayMay — moderate stocking Brook Trout typical size: 8–11 inch catchableJunJun — moderate stocking Brook Trout typical size: 8–11 inch catchableJulJul — moderate stocking Brook Trout typical size: 8–11 inch catchableAugAug — moderate stocking Brook Trout typical size: 8–11 inch catchableSepSep — moderate stocking Brook Trout typical size: 8–11 inch catchableOctOct — moderate stocking Brook Trout typical size: 8–11 inch catchableNovNov — moderate stocking Brook Trout typical size: 8–11 inch catchableDecDec — moderate stocking Brook Trout typical size: 8–11 inch catchable
    Typical size: 8–11 inch catchable
  • Kokanee SalmonOncorhynchus nerka
    JanJan — moderate stocking Kokanee Salmon typical size: 2–3 inch fingerlingFebFeb — moderate stocking Kokanee Salmon typical size: 2–3 inch fingerlingMarMar — moderate stocking Kokanee Salmon typical size: 2–3 inch fingerlingAprApr — moderate stocking Kokanee Salmon typical size: 2–3 inch fingerlingMayMay — moderate stocking Kokanee Salmon typical size: 2–3 inch fingerlingJunJun — moderate stocking Kokanee Salmon typical size: 2–3 inch fingerlingJulJul — moderate stocking Kokanee Salmon typical size: 2–3 inch fingerlingAugAug — moderate stocking Kokanee Salmon typical size: 2–3 inch fingerlingSepSep — moderate stocking Kokanee Salmon typical size: 2–3 inch fingerlingOctOct — moderate stocking Kokanee Salmon typical size: 2–3 inch fingerlingNovNov — moderate stocking Kokanee Salmon typical size: 2–3 inch fingerlingDecDec — moderate stocking Kokanee Salmon typical size: 2–3 inch fingerling
    Typical size: 2–3 inch fingerling
  • Chinook & Coho SalmonOncorhynchus tshawytscha / O. kisutch
    JanJan — moderate stocking Chinook & Coho Salmon typical size: 3–6 inch smoltFebFeb — moderate stocking Chinook & Coho Salmon typical size: 3–6 inch smoltMarMar — moderate stocking Chinook & Coho Salmon typical size: 3–6 inch smoltAprApr — moderate stocking Chinook & Coho Salmon typical size: 3–6 inch smoltMayMay — moderate stocking Chinook & Coho Salmon typical size: 3–6 inch smoltJunJun — moderate stocking Chinook & Coho Salmon typical size: 3–6 inch smoltJulJul — moderate stocking Chinook & Coho Salmon typical size: 3–6 inch smoltAugAug — moderate stocking Chinook & Coho Salmon typical size: 3–6 inch smoltSepSep — moderate stocking Chinook & Coho Salmon typical size: 3–6 inch smoltOctOct — moderate stocking Chinook & Coho Salmon typical size: 3–6 inch smoltNovNov — moderate stocking Chinook & Coho Salmon typical size: 3–6 inch smoltDecDec — moderate stocking Chinook & Coho Salmon typical size: 3–6 inch smolt
    Typical size: 3–6 inch smolt

Top stocked waterbodies in Washington

Notable Washington programs

  • Annual Trout Lake Stocking (1+ million trout)
  • Anadromous Salmon Smolt Program
  • Tribal Hatchery Coordination

State hatchery system

Washington operates 8 state-run fish hatcheries supporting the stocking program.

Washington urban fishing program

Washington maintains a designated urban fishing program — typically frequent stockings of catfish, trout, and panfish in city ponds and lakes. These programs are designed to make fishing accessible to families and first-time anglers.

Washington urban fishing program details →

Weekly stocking alerts for Washington.

Bield: Fish reads Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife's stocking reports and alerts you when your saved waters are stocked. Set your county once and you'll know the day fish hit your home river.

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