Action: Returns Lake Washington to permanent rules listed in the Washington Sport Fishing Rules, reopening salmon fishing.
Effective dates: Immediately through Oct. 31, 2026.
Species affected: Coho salmon.
Location: Lake Washington (King County) north of Highway 520 Bridge and east of Montlake Bridge, including the portion of the Sammamish River near Kenmore from 68th Avenue Northeast downstream.
Reason for action: Fish counts at the Ballard Locks have improved significantly over the past week, indicating the coho return to the Lake Washington/Lake Sammamish basin is sufficient to reopen coho retention in Lake Washington.
Additional information: Preliminary salmon counts collected during survey hours at the Ballard Locks are available on WDFW's Lake Washington salmon counts webpage.
Fishery managers encourage anglers to sign up for Fishing Rule Change email notifications and to check for emergency rules on the WDFW website before fishing. Refer to the Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet for current regulations. Download the Fish Washington® mobile app to stay up to date on the go.
Information contact: North Puget Sound Region, 425-775-1311.