Washington has some of the best Steelhead fishing in the world. Anglers come from all around the country to battle the Evergreen State’s monster ocean-going Trout. There’s no bad time to target them, either, with two river runs and a chance of saltwater action. It’s only fitting, then, that the Washington state fish is Steelhead Trout.
Trout fishing is great in Washington, sure, but what makes Steelhead stand out from the rest of the state’s Trout species? Where should you go to catch them, and when? Read on to find out all this and more!
Why is Steelhead Trout Washington’s state fish?
Steelhead became the state fish of Washington in 1969, but they’ve always been a favorite among Washington’s anglers. That’s saying a lot, considering you can also target five other species of Trout and four different species of Salmon here. There are just a couple of the things that set Steelhead Trout above the rest.
The Best of Both Worlds
Steelhead are the same as Rainbow Trout, but with one key difference: They spend much of their life in the ocean, then return to the rivers to spawn. This means that you can target them in both saltwater and freshwater, which opens up a huge range of ways to catch them.
Like the sound of wading through Washington’s remote rivers with a fly rod in hand? Steelhead will happily put you through your paces. Prefer the thought of shore fishing in the Puget Sound? You can still count Steelies among your many targets. There’s something for every angler’s taste.
One Fish, Two Runs
Even though they’re ocean-going, most of the state’s Steelie action happens in freshwater. Washington enjoys two separate river runs which tag each other out over the course of the year. Summer-run Steelhead make their way into the rivers as adolescents and mature as they journey upstream. Winter Steelhead are mature and ready to take on their spawning form when they hit freshwater.
“That’s great, but what does it mean for me?” Put simply, you can target Steelhead twice as often. The winter run is in season November through March. The summer run lasts from June through September. Throw in the appearance of hatchery Steelhead in fall, and you can fish pretty much year-round if you’re willing to travel to the right river.
Steelhead Trout: The Perfect Game Fish
Over time, Steelhead numbers have declined and the angling opportunities have decreased. The authorities continuously work on implementing different management measures and introducing various restrictions with a single goal: to conserve the Steelhead population.
But even though Steelhead angling isn’t what it used to be, Steelhead more than deserve their place as the Washington state fish. They’re big, they’re mean, and they’re around almost all year. In short, they’re the perfect game fish.
If you want to learn more about what fish await you in the “Evergreen State,” read our blog Washington State Fishing: The Complete Guide.
