It’s free fishing weekend in Washington state. Here’s how it works

It’s free fishing weekend in Washington, which means it’s time to dust off your tackle, clamp your bobbins, dig up some worms and get out to your local lakes and streams.

Every year, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife holds its annual free fishing weekend during annual fishing and boating week, which falls on June 6-7 this year.

“Free Fishing Weekend gives people an easy entry point into fishing,” Kirt Hughes, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) fish management division manager, said in a news release. “You don’t need to be an expert or own a boat to get started. There are lakes, shorelines and fishing piers across the state where people can get out and give it a try.”

Hold the line, though, licenses are still required this weekend to fish for salmon, steelhead, sturgeon, halibut and all shellfish.

But if you’re hoping to snag some rainbows, bass, perch and other game fish in lakes this weekend, you can skip the licensing process and head straight to the water.

All other rules and regulations – seasons, size limits, daily limits, gear rules, recording requirements and area closures – still apply. Anglers should check the current fishing regulations and any current emergency rules.

Some other fun examples of free fishing this weekend, provided by the WDFW in its news release, were jetty fishing for rockfish and surfperch, fishing for American shad on the Columbia River, and trolling for bottomfish in Puget Sound.

Anglers, young and old, can win a prize by participating in the 2026 Trout Derby. A list of participating lakes can be found on the WDFW website.

Along with Free Fishing Weekend, June 6-7 is also Discover Pass free days, when a Discover Pass is not required to park on land managed by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, Washington State Parks or WDFW.

You can also download the Fish Washington Mobile App for all the updated information.

“We want people to enjoy the weekend and have a successful trip,” Hughes said.

This story was originally published June 5, 2026 at 12:00 PM with the headline "It’s free fishing weekend in Washington state. Here’s how it works."

Gavin Feek

The News Tribune

Gavin Feek is the outdoors reporter for The News Tribune. He is a Seattle-born writer who covers the intersection of public lands, climate-related issues and outdoor recreation. After working for many years in Yosemite National Park, Gavin pivoted to journalism in 2020. You can find his bylines in The Seattle Times, The Stranger, Outside, Climbing, The Intercept, Vox Media, Vertical Times, McSweeney’s, and various other publications. He spends his free time outdoors with his family.