Washington anglers are now required to have a recreational fishing license for freshwater smelt, crawfish, and carp.
The law, which eliminates the fishing license exemption for each species, went into effect on June 6.
The Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife said in a statement that the license requirement is aimed at improving fishing regulatory compliance.
“As Washington’s population grows and recreational fishing activity increases, we often feel the strain on our natural resources,” said Kelly Cunningham, WDFW Fisheries Program Director. “A fishing license requirement can help promote sustainable fishing practices while protecting endangered species.”
A Washington fishing or shellfishing license is required to fish for freshwater smelt and crawfish. A fishing license is also required to fish for carp, except for Moses Lake and Vancouver Lake, where carp fishing is exempt from this requirement. Temporary licenses are valid.
Existing fishing or shellfishing licenses will remain valid and existing license holders will not see any increase in costs. Youth under the age of 15 do not need a fishing license. Visit the WDFW website at https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations for more information about fishing license types and fees.
Columbia River and tributary fisheries reports
The Lower Columbia River from the Rocky Point/Tongue Point line upstream to Bonneville Dam had 295 salmonid boats and 158 Washington bank rods tallied in the June 1 flight count.
MAINSTEM COLUMBIA RIVER
Salmon/Steelhead
Sec 1 (Bonneville) — 55 bank anglers kept four jacks, released two Chinooks and one jack.
Sec 3 (I-5 area) — The three bank fishermen caught nothing.
Sec 4 (Vancouver) — 33 bank anglers had no catches; eight boats/15 rods kept one Chinook and released one Chinook.
Sec 5 (Woodland) — 20 bank anglers kept a Chinook, a jack and a steelhead; four boats/six rods sustain a Chinook.
Sec 6 (Kalama) — Five bank fishermen have no catch; one boat/two rods has no catch.
Sec 8 (Longview) — 90 bank anglers kept six steelhead; The 27 boats/68 rods kept 27 steelhead and released one steelhead.
Sec 9 (Cathlamet) — 14 bank anglers had no catch; three boats/three rods there is no catch.
Sec 10 (Cathlamet) — Eight bank anglers caught nothing.
Shad
Sec 1 (Bonneville) — 10 bank anglers kept 56 shad; four boats/10 rods kept 100 shad.
Sec 8 (Longview) — Two boats/five rods kept eight shad.
COLUMBIA RIVER TRIBUTARIES
Salmon/Steelhead
Cowlitz River Bridge I-5 downstream — 24 bank rods kept one jack, five steelhead, released one Chinook and two steelhead; five boats/15 rods kept two steelhead.
Cowlitz River above I-5 bridge — 14 bank rods with two jacks; two boats/six shafts maintain a jack.
Kalama River — 10 bank rods kept two Chinooks, two jacks and released two steelhead; three boats/nine rods have no catch.
Lewis River — 39 bank rods kept one Chinook, two jacks and released one steelhead; five boats/15 rods kept one steelhead.
Wind River — Four boats/eight rods caught no fish.
Drano Lake – A bank rod has no catch; three boats/four rods catch nothing.
Recent trout plants
June 5
Swift Power Canal — 2,100 rainbow trout, 1.54 fish per pound from Merwin Hatchery.
June 3
Klineline Pond — 3,000 rainbow trout, 2.50 fish per pound from Goldendale Hatchery.
