Choose tight lines over long lines or online on the day after Thanksgiving and create a new family fishing tradition in November. The WDFW is stocking 24 lakes statewide with over 140,000 rainbow trout, and that just adds to what is already a great month to fish in Washington.

The “holiday specials” being stocked just in time for Nov. 27 include thousands of large trout averaging 15 to 16 inches in length and weighing up to three pounds.

These lakes join dozens of others around the state already stocked in October with tens of thousands of trout. A number of other lakes stocked earlier this year also open for fishing on Black Friday. Many other lakes still boast excellent trout fishing as a result of stocking earlier in the year.

WDFW encourages anglers to recreate responsibly amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic in Washington by following social distancing guidelines and spreading out their visits to avoid overcrowding at popular lakes.

“The holiday season is more than just Black Friday, and all these fish won’t be caught in one day,” said Steve Caromile, inland fish program manager with WDFW. “Anglers should have a plan B if their preferred destination appears too busy or be prepared to come back another time. We want everyone to stay safe and healthy while still getting to catch some trout.”

Learn more

For up-to-date stocking information, anglers should follow the department’s weekly catchable trout stocking report, where they can find reports on stocking that has taken place within the last 30 days and throughout the year.

Fishing licenses can be purchased by telephone at 1-866-246-9453, online at fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov, or at hundreds of license vendors across the state. Visit wdfw.wa.gov/licenses/dealers to find a license vendor near you.

Tight lines to you and yours on the holiday weekend!

Not just about the trout

While we’re highlighting the holiday season trout-fishing opportunity, November is also a great month to fish for plenty of other reasons.

Among the opportunities available this month, anglers can still pursue salmon in many rivers, and while coho salmon runs might start to slow down, hatchery steelhead can come into play more frequently in freshwater this month. Also, don’t discount chum salmon runs that gain steam this month in some streams.

Thanksgiving is the traditional kick-off to hatchery steelhead season, but retention is already open on some coastal streams. Remember to release all wild steelhead without removing them from the water.

To check what rivers near you are open to fishing and for which species, see the Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet.

For tips and tricks on salmon fishing, some of which will help out in steelhead fishing, visit our recreational salmon fishing information page.

Just a start

The information here is just a sampling of the recreational opportunities available on rivers and saltwater this month. Head over to wdfw.wa.gov and read up on what else you can get your feet wet with in November.