The statewide trout stocking plan provides anglers with the earliest information on where and how many trout are planned to be stocked into lakes and streams around the state. While most of the lakes are stocked as planned, anglers can expect a few changes due to modifications in hatchery production, as well as the ability to stock excess brood fish.
The 2023 Statewide Hatchery Trout and Kokanee Stocking Plan contains stocking information for each individual Washington County and for the entire state. The locations, dates, and numbers of fish presented are based on information developed in the early part of the year, and unavoidable changes may occur.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife expects to stock or has stocked more than 16.2 million trout and kokanee into over 500 water bodies across the state to provide for excellent trout and kokanee fishing opportunities during 2023. The stocking is comprised of "catchables", "jumbos", "put, grow and take" and "fry/fingerling" plants.
Catchable Trout Plants
For the 2023 trout fishing season, 2.18 million catchables will be stocked throughout the state. Like the last few years, the average size of catchables on opening day is expected to be about 11 inches in length. To keep track of when catchables are stocked in real-time, anglers can consult the Catchable trout plants reports page.
Jumbo Trout
In 2023, the Department will stock hundreds of lakes throughout the state with over 147,000 jumbo trout averaging greater than 14 inches in length and 1 pound or larger in weight. To keep track of when Jumbo Trout are stocked in real-time, anglers can consult the Catchable trout plants reports page.
Trout and Kokanee Fry, Fingerling and Put, Grow and Take Plants
Over 12 million fry, fingerlings and put, grow and take fish were stocked throughout the state as 2-to-8-inch-long fish. Kokanee fry that were stocked in 2022 will be harvestable in 2023/2024 fisheries, while trout fry, fingerling and put, grow and take were stocked in spring and fall 2022 for this year's catch.
Fry, fingerlings and put, grow and take are stocked in the spring and fall, when they are able to feed and grow on natural food until they are large enough to be harvested. The survival rate for these differing sizes of fish varies depending on conditions of the lake. A number of eastern Washington lakes are managed so that fry survival is very good and therefore are the primary source of trout available for harvest. Western Washington lowland lakes depend primarily on catchable-size trout plants because of relatively low fry survival. In Western Washington, where fry plants are successful, the ones that survive supplement the catchable trout plants.
Some Tips for Finding and Catching Trout
To find when, where and how to catch trout in Washington visit our trout species pages.