OLYMPIA – The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is stocking 24 lakes statewide with over 65,000 rainbow trout for Black Friday fishing, creating an exciting holiday weekend opportunity for anglers around Washington. 

“WDFW has offered Black Friday fishing for more than a decade, and it’s been a big hit for anglers statewide,” said Steve Caromile, WDFW inland trout manager. “If you’ve never participated before, this is a great year to start a new tradition spending time outside with friends and family the day after Thanksgiving.”

Included in the over 65,000 rainbow trout are thousands of “holiday special” jumbo trout, weighing up to three pounds and measuring 16-17 inches. This year, the lakes and ponds that will be stocked by Nov. 29 include:  

• Adams and Lincoln counties – Fourth of July Lake
• Chelan County – Roses Lake
• Clark County – Battle Ground Lake and Klineline Pond
• Cowlitz County – Kress Lake
• Island County – Cranberry Lake
• King County – Beaver Lake and Green Lake
• Klickitat County – Rowland Lake
• Lewis County – Fort Borst Park Pond and South Lewis County Park Pond
• Pacific County – Cases Pond
• Pierce County – American Lake and Tanwax Lake 
• Snohomish County – Ballinger Lake, Gissburg Ponds, Silver Lake, and Lake Tye
• Spokane County – Hog Canyon Lake
• Stevens County – Hatch Lake
• Thurston County – Black Lake, Long Lake, and Offutt Lake
• Yakima County – Elton Pond North

WDFW has also stocked trout in other Western Washington lakes this fall, including Bonney Lake and Harts Lake in Pierce County and Munn Lake, St. Clair Lake, and Ward Lake in Thurston County. 

Visit WDFW’s lowland lakes page for more information on these and hundreds of other lakes throughout the state. Find helpful basic trout fishing tips on the WDFW Black Friday fishing blog post. For up-to-date stocking information, anglers should visit the catchable trout stocking report on the WDFW website. 

Anglers 15 years and older must have a current Washington freshwater fishing license, valid through March 31, 2025, to participate. Licenses can be purchased online or at any of the hundreds of license vendors across the state. 

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife works to preserve, protect, and perpetuate fish, wildlife and ecosystems while providing sustainable fish and wildlife recreational and commercial opportunities.