Washington fishing reports
380 reports for Washington — what's biting, water temps, and where to focus.
Columbia Basin bass season rolls as summer steelhead gear up on WA rivers
USGS gauge 14113000 registered 975 cfs and 57°F on the Columbia system at dawn Sunday — conditions that put both coldwater and warmwater fishing firmly in range. The sharpest signal this week comes from Outdoor Hub, which reports that bass season is rolling across Washington state, with a full summer tournament lineup planned at Moses Lake, Potholes Reservoir, and Banks Lake through August. Smallmouth and largemouth are the draw at those Columbia Basin impoundments, and the new moon tonight sets up low-light feeding windows at dawn and dusk worth planning around. Field & Stream's trout temperature guide places 57°F squarely in the comfort zone for rainbow trout and steelhead — well below the stress thresholds that trigger hoot owl-style restrictions — so coldwater rivers and tailwaters are in good shape. Summer steelhead typically begin building numbers in Columbia mainstem reaches by mid-June, and moderate, clear-running flows at this level are exactly the conditions that make them catchable.
Columbia Basin bass season hits full stride with summer tournament action
Bass season is rolling across Eastern Washington's Columbia Basin, with Moses Lake, Potholes Reservoir, and Banks Lake hosting a packed tournament schedule from now through August, per Outdoor Hub. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Inland Empire Bass Club have a full lineup of open and club events on the calendar for summer 2026. The Yakima River is flowing at 2,990 cfs as of early this morning (USGS gauge 12484500) — elevated but within manageable summer range. No water temperature was recorded on the gauge this cycle; mid-June conditions on the Yakima typically favor trout activity when temperatures stay below stress thresholds. Wired 2 Fish flagged drought-driven fish kills hitting reservoirs across the West, a useful reminder to monitor local water levels through July. The new moon today removes lunar pressure, which often sharpens mid-morning bass feeding windows on the Columbia Basin lakes.
Chinook and Halibut on the Menu as Puget Sound Hits Mid-June Stride
Washington Sea Grant is rallying volunteers for the third annual Salish Sea-wide Molt Blitz on June 26, a citizen-science event that doubles as a reminder that Dungeness crab are in their active summer growth phase throughout Puget Sound. No NOAA buoy readings or on-the-water captain reports reached this update's data feed, so specific current conditions are unavailable; consult WA WDFW's creel and catch reports for the freshest access-site interviews. That said, mid-June is a productive window across the region. Chinook salmon move through Puget Sound passes in earnest this month, and Pacific halibut season on the Pacific coast side is typically in full swing. Today's New Moon sets up strong spring tides; the transitions between flood and ebb tend to concentrate baitfish schools and draw predators to current seams. Lingcod season is open and fish are typically holding over rocky structure. Anglers planning weekend runs should verify current emergency closures via WDFW before heading out.
Columbia Basin bass rolling; summer steelhead beginning to build
USGS gauge 14113000 recorded 63°F and 975 cfs on June 14, placing the monitored Columbia system reach at moderate late-spring flow as water temperatures reach the upper edge of comfortable trout range. The clearest fishing signal this week comes from Outdoor Hub's Washington bass tournament calendar, which documents the Columbia Basin in full swing through August, with events at Moses Lake, Potholes Reservoir, and Banks Lake confirming warmwater species are producing well. Summer steelhead, the region's marquee mid-season run, typically begin filtering into Columbia tributaries in June and should be finding workable holding water at current flows. Trout anglers face a narrowing productive window: Field & Stream's temperature guide notes that 63°F is where trout begin to show heat stress, making early-morning sessions in shaded, well-oxygenated canyon reaches the strongest play right now. Verify current state regulations on salmon retention before heading out, as spring Chinook windows vary by reach.
Columbia Basin Bass in Full Swing at Moses Lake, Potholes, and Banks Lake
Bass season is firmly in gear across Eastern Washington's Columbia Basin, with Outdoor Hub reporting a packed summer tournament calendar running through August at Moses Lake, Potholes Reservoir, and Banks Lake. Events span Inland Empire Bass Club competitions and WDFW-supported open draws, drawing tournament competitors and recreational anglers alike as water temperatures climb. Meanwhile, the Yakima River is running at 2,950 cfs per USGS gauge 12484500 near Ellensburg, carrying elevated late-snowmelt flows that are making wading conditions difficult for trout anglers. No water temperature reading is available at this gauge. Field & Stream's mid-June trout guide notes how quickly summer heat can stress fish; anglers targeting rainbows on the Yakima should watch for any state hoot-owl advisories and plan early-morning sessions. The New Moon today opens improved low-light bite windows for bass across the Columbia Basin reservoirs.
Puget Sound Enters Mid-June Salmon Window as Boating Season Peaks
Washington Sea Grant confirmed this week that Washington's boating season is officially underway, with Puget Sound and Pacific coast waters seeing increasing recreational traffic. Specific bite reports are sparse in this cycle: no NOAA buoy readings or charter updates came through in time for press, but WA WDFW Fishing Reports notes the department runs regular creel surveys at access sites statewide, and on-the-water numbers should surface through their portal as weekend traffic builds. Mid-June is historically one of the more active windows for Chinook salmon through the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Central Sound, with marine halibut season running concurrently. Washington Sea Grant is also flagging the third annual Salish Sea-wide Molt Blitz for June 26, a citizen-science crab-molt survey signaling that Dungeness are actively cycling through summer growth phases. Crab anglers should watch local WDFW closure dates and plan accordingly.
Columbia Basin bass fire up as mid-June steelhead push begins
USGS gauge 14113000 logged 64°F and 975 cfs on June 13, placing the Columbia system squarely in early-summer mode. Smallmouth bass are the headline story right now: Outdoor Hub's Washington tournament calendar confirms bass season is rolling across the Columbia Basin, with events already scheduled at Moses Lake, Potholes Reservoir, and Banks Lake through August — a strong indicator that anglers are actively finding fish. For trout, that 64°F reading sits at the upper edge of comfortable territory. Field & Stream's temperature guide for trout fishing notes that stress builds meaningfully past 65°F, making early-morning sessions in shaded, spring-fed reaches the smart play. Summer steelhead typically begin entering Columbia tributaries in mid-June, though no direct catch reports were available this cycle to confirm exact timing. Check WA WDFW's creel and stocking reports for current access conditions. With a new moon this weekend, low-light windows at dawn and dusk should produce the best bite across all species.
Puget Sound & Pacific Enter Early-Summer Salmon and Halibut Window
WA Sea Grant's announcement of the Third Annual Salish Sea-wide Molt Blitz on June 26 is a useful seasonal marker: Dungeness crab are actively molting across the Salish Sea as summer temperatures take hold. No real-time buoy or gauge data arrived in this report cycle, and no charter or tackle-shop reports were captured for Puget Sound or the Pacific coast, so specific catch numbers are not available. WA WDFW Fishing Reports tracks creel data statewide, and anglers should check that resource for the latest access-site interviews and hatchery stocking updates before planning a trip. Seasonally, mid-June is typically when summer Chinook build through the Sound's narrows and river mouths, when outer-coast Pacific halibut season is underway, and when bottom species like rockfish and lingcod hold on nearshore structure. New moon tides on June 13 can compress tidal movement, worth factoring into any Puget Sound salmon or crab plan.
Columbia Basin bass season rolling as summer steelhead window builds
USGS gauge 14113000 put the Columbia at 57°F and 993 cfs on the morning of June 13 — conditions that sit well below the warm-water stress threshold for trout and salmon. On the bass front, Outdoor Hub confirms tournament season is in full swing across the Columbia Basin, with events at Moses Lake, Potholes Reservoir, and Banks Lake scheduled through August, organized in conjunction with the Inland Empire Bass Club and WDFW. That calendar signals smallmouth and largemouth are actively drawing competitive anglers to the Columbia's mid-basin impoundments. Specific creel data for steelhead and Chinook is not available in this cycle's intel feeds; WA WDFW Fishing Reports maintains creel and stocking updates on their site, and that remains the most reliable place to confirm current summer-run opener status. New Moon falls today, which typically extends productive low-light feeding windows into the early morning hours — worth planning around for any species you're targeting this weekend.
Chinook and Halibut Season Hits Stride on Washington's Sound and Coast
With the new moon arriving June 13, NOAA buoys 46041 and 46087 are recording light winds — 4 m/s and 2 m/s respectively — and cool air temperatures around 52–56°F along the Washington outer coast, though water-temperature sensors at both stations returned no readings this cycle. Direct bite reports for Puget Sound and the Pacific coast were limited in this reporting period; the WA WDFW Fishing Reports page is active with statewide creel and stocking data, but specific current species notes were not available. WA Sea Grant flags the annual Salish Sea-wide Molt Blitz on June 26, a signal that Dungeness crab activity is well underway across Puget Sound. Absent specific on-water intel, seasonal patterns for mid-June typically bring Chinook salmon into the straits and passages of Puget Sound, Pacific halibut holding on sandy offshore flats, and lingcod staying tight to deep rocky structure. Verify current retention rules and any emergency closures with WDFW before heading out.
Columbia Basin Bass in Full Swing as Summer Tournament Season Arrives
USGS gauge 14113000 logged 62°F water and 984 cfs on June 12, placing Washington's mid-Columbia tributary system squarely in the productive mid-season range. Outdoor Hub reports that bass season is rolling across the Columbia Basin, with a full summer tournament calendar already running at Moses Lake, Potholes Reservoir, and Banks Lake through August — a strong signal that both smallmouth and largemouth are active on structure and open water. Field & Stream's temperature guide for trout puts 62°F near the upper edge of the ideal window, making early mornings the priority session before afternoon heat pushes fish deeper or into cover. Flow at the gauge sits at a moderate, navigable level that tends to concentrate fish on predictable current seams and ledge edges. Direct shop or charter reports for Puget Sound river tributaries are sparse in this reporting cycle; consult WA WDFW Fishing Reports for the latest creel surveys and active stocking locations before making the drive.
Bass season heats up across the Columbia Basin as Eastern WA summer kicks off
Bass season is rolling across Eastern Washington's Columbia Basin, with Outdoor Hub reporting a packed summer 2026 tournament calendar at Moses Lake, Potholes Reservoir, and Banks Lake running now through August — a strong indicator that largemouth and smallmouth are active and the season is in full swing. The Yakima River (USGS gauge 12484500) was logged at 2,720 cfs on June 12, a moderately elevated late-runoff flow as Cascade snowmelt continues to taper. Water temperatures were not captured at the gauge at time of reporting. Wired 2 Fish flagged prolonged western drought as a growing threat to reservoir fisheries across the West, making it worth checking local water levels before launching at any impoundment. The waning crescent moon through the weekend favors low-light bites at dawn and dusk. WA WDFW Fishing Reports tracks active stocking schedules statewide for anglers planning a mid-week trout outing.