Anglers can fish in the state of Washington without a license this weekend, June 8 and 9. State parks are also free this weekend.
During these two days no license will be required to fish or gather seafood in any state waters open to those activities.
“If you haven’t fished in Washington, or want to introduce fishing to someone new, this is the weekend to get out there,” said Ron Warren, assistant director of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (WDFW) fish program in a news release.
Some of the options for anglers on Free Fishing Weekend include:
Trout in lowland lakes, and in the many rivers open to trout fishing throughout the state
Lingcod on the coast.
Bass, crappie, perch and other warmwater fish biting in lakes throughout Washington.
Shad on the Columbia River.
Hatchery steelhead on rivers on the Olympic Peninsula.
Fishermen that take part in free fishing this weekend can also participate in the department’s 2019 Trout Fishing Derby. You can redeem blue tags from fish caught over the weekend. Anglers can check for details online at https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov/Home/FishingDerby.
Where two-pole fishing is permitted, anglers will not need a Two Pole Endorsement to fish with two poles in selected waters. Also, no vehicle access pass or Discover Pass will be required during Free Fishing Weekend to park at water-access sites maintained by WDFW or Washington State Parks.
All other regulations concerning size limits, bag limits, catch record card requirements and area closures will still be in effect.
For more information, call Steve Caromile, 360-902-8315, or Jason Wettstein, 360-902-2254
Conservation group to meet June 11
The Coastal Conservation Association will hold its monthly meeting on Tuesday, June 11 at the Camas Meadows Gold Club at 3105 NW Camas Meadows Drive. The meeting will start at 6:30 p.m.
The club meets on the second Tuesday of every month.
For more information, go to: http://www.ccawashington.org/SWWA
Barbless hooks now voluntary on Columbia
Barbless hooks will no longer be required on a large portion of the Columbia River and many of its tributaries when fishing for salmon and steelhead beginning June 1.
The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission in March directed the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) to make the use of barbless hooks voluntary.
WDFW is unable to fully lift the restrictions on barbed hooks in some areas, including tributaries upstream of McNary Dam and the Snake River due to Endangered Species Act permitting with NOAA.
Barbless hook requirements when fishing for salmon and steelhead are being lifted across a broad swath of Washington waters. They include the mainstem Columbia River from Buoy 10 to Chief Joseph Dam, and Columbia River tributaries from Buoy 10 to McNary Dam.
Barbless hooks are still required for anglers targeting sturgeon.
For a complete list of waters where barbless hooks are no longer required, check the WDFW website.
