This publication is organized into three sections. The first section is the lowland lakes catchable trout stocking table, followed by the stream stocking table and lastly, the lowland lakes stocked last spring and fall with trout fry. Each section lists the waters by county, shows the trout species, numbers to be stocked by size, and approximate time to be stocked. The locations, dates, and times presented are based on current information, so unavoidable changes may occur.

Catchable Trout Plants

About 3 million catchable size trout (7 inches or larger) are scheduled to be stocked this spring into Washington's lowland lakes. About 70,000 trout are planned for stocking into selected streams, to provide mitigation for lost opportunity to harvest wild fish or to provide recreational opportunity in areas where habitat does not support wild trout.

Triploid Trout

For the second year in a row, the Department will purchase triploid trout averaging 1½ pounds and will stock them in 77 lakes throughout the state. These trout are sterile rainbows that are voracious feeders and have the potential to grow to trophy size. Triploid rainbow are identified as TRB under Species in the catchable trout socking table. (See also: 2001 Triploid Trout Stocking Schedule)

Trout Fry Plants

Many lakes are stocked with two to four inch long trout fry. Trout fry are planted in the spring or fall, where they forage on natural food and grow until the following spring when they are large enough to be harvested. The survival of fry plants varies depending on the lake. Some eastern Washington lakes are managed in such a way that fry survival is good enough to be the primary source of new trout available for harvest in the spring. Western Washington lakes are primarily dependant on catchable size trout plants because of lower fry survival. However fry are stocked in some lakes to supplement the catchable trout plants.

New Automated License Vending System

The Department's new automated license vending system begins this year. You will be able to purchase your license for trout season over the telephone by calling toll free 866-246-9453. The license will be mailed to your home address in 4 to 6 days. You will also be given an authorization number over the telephone that will allow you to fish immediately for trout, bass, walleye, and other freshwater species that do not require a catch record card. You will also be able to purchase your license over the web after May 1.

You can purchase an annual resident freshwater license for $23.90 if you do not fish in saltwater. You can also purchase an annual resident combination fishing license that will allow you to fish for all species of freshwater and saltwater game fish and food fish as well as shellfish for $41.42. If you are a non-resident, the price doubles for an annual license. After the first 8 days of the season, a person can purchase a 2 day fishing license for $8.57, whether resident or non-resident. A real bargain! Because the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife believes that it is important to encourage youth to learn to fish, children under 15 can fish in Washington for free whether resident or non-resident. Youths 15 years old are required to have a license, but they pay only $7.48 for an annual combination license. The above prices include the transaction fee and dealer fee.