Northwest Fishing Reports

As the result my Lake Stevens report to day one of the WL members pointed out that I because I was using bait I had exceeded my limit while fishing Lake Stevens today.

In re-reviewing the regulations I found that the individual was correct; Where I had read the special regulations for Lake Stevens I thought that the daily catch limit is 5 trout no minimum size and 10 Kokanee no minimum size and that kokanee are not included in your daily trout limit. It turns out that Page 31 of the regulations reads "In lakes, ponds, and reservoirs... When fishing with bait, all TROUT (except STEELHEAD) equal to or greater than the minimum size are counted as part of the daily limit whether kept or released."

I hope this helps to clarify the regulations a bit. I try to keep up with the regulations but this one caught me off guard
Also I am attaching the pictures that didn’t make it into my report.

nice fish!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ok, so im confused..... so is the limit just 5 fish total. or is it still 5 trout and 10 kokes for a total of 15 fish per person????

rseas wrote: "In lakes, ponds, and reservoirs... When fishing with bait, all TROUT (except STEELHEAD) equal to or greater than the minimum size are counted as part of the daily limit whether kept or released."

When fishing with artificial lures "and not using bait" you can release as many fish as you wish, until your daily limit is retained.
With bait chances are higher that the released fish will not survive and for that reason you call it a day after releasing your
daily limit.

please contact Aaron and let him know the picture details. I had no problem adding them. I know this issue is a frustration when you don't see the picture post. When you see this you can always e-mail it to mike@washingtonlakes.com and I will add asap.

rseas how many fish did you catch total? If you caught 10 Kokanee and 5 other trout you are legal the regs on page 66 say you can do that.....

STEVENS, LAKE (Snohomish Co.) ALL SPECIES - chumming permitted.
KOKANEE Year-round No min. size. Daily limit 10.
All Other TROUT Year-round No min size. Daily limit 5. KOKANEE not included in TROUT daily limit.
Other Game Fish Year-round Statewide min. size/daily limit.


They are making an exception that is why it is the special rules section. Otherwise normally koks are counted as part of the TROUT limit. But in this case they have it in special rules as having the Koks in separate category from the other TROUT even when using bait.

I have run into this before. But if you doubt it call WDFW and verify it. But as the regs read you are allowed the 15 total fish 10 Koks and 5 other Trout.

As for the bait issue... you must count the first 10 Koks you catch regardless of size in the category and first 5 OTHER TROUT you catch.

Hope that helps explain it some. That is how the WDFW explained it to me. But again if in doubt call them and if you do let me know what they say because the sometimes contradict themselves.