Clearwater River Fishing Regulations
Jefferson, King/Pierce counties, Washington · 2026 size limits, bag limits, and seasons
Clearwater River is a river in Jefferson, King/Pierce counties, Washington. It has its own fishing regulations for 14 species, including Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Cutthroat Trout, and Golden Trout, set separately for 3 sections of the river. These rules replace Washington's statewide limits on this water.
Map of Clearwater River
Fish with special rules on Clearwater River
Tap a fish for identification tips, size records, and the best bait.
Clearwater River limits by species (2026)
Entire river
| Species | Size limit | Daily bag | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
 Brook Trout | – | – | May 23 – Oct 31 |
 Brown Trout | – | – | May 23 – Oct 31 |
 Cutthroat Trout | – | Catch & release only | May 23 – Oct 31 |
| – | – | May 23 – Oct 31 | |
 Golden Trout | – | – | May 23 – Oct 31 |
 Lake Trout | – | – | May 23 – Oct 31 |
 Rainbow Trout | – | – | May 23 – Oct 31 |
 Steelhead | – | – | May 23 – Oct 31 |
| Wild Rainbow Trout | – | Catch & release only | May 23 – Oct 31 |
From mouth to Snahapish River
| Species | Size limit | Daily bag | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Fish SpeciesBarbless | – | – | Year-round |
| No Bait | – | – | Feb 16 – Aug 31 |
 Atlantic Salmon | 12" min | 3 | Sep 1 – Sep 30 |
| Brook Trout | – | – | May 23 – Dec 31, Jan 1 – Apr 15 |
| Brown Trout | – | – | May 23 – Dec 31, Jan 1 – Apr 15 |
 Chinook Salmon | 12" min | 3 | Sep 1 – Sep 30 |
| – | Catch & release only | Sep 1 – Sep 30 | |
 Coho Salmon | 12" min | 3 | Sep 1 – Sep 30 |
| Cutthroat Trout | – | – | May 23 – Dec 31, Jan 1 – Apr 15 |
| 14" min | – | May 23 – Dec 31, Jan 1 – Apr 15 | |
| Golden Trout | – | – | May 23 – Dec 31, Jan 1 – Apr 15 |
| Lake Trout | – | – | May 23 – Dec 31, Jan 1 – Apr 15 |
 Pink Salmon | 12" min | 3 | Sep 1 – Sep 30 |
| Rainbow Trout | – | – | May 23 – Dec 31, Jan 1 – Apr 15 |
 Sockeye Salmon | 12" min | 3 | Sep 1 – Sep 30 |
| Steelhead | – | – | May 23 – Dec 31, Jan 1 – Apr 15 |
| Wild Coho SalmonWild fish only | – | Catch & release only | Sep 1 – Sep 30 |
| Wild Rainbow Trout | – | Catch & release only | May 23 – Dec 31, Jan 1 – Apr 15 |
From Snahapish River upstream
| Species | Size limit | Daily bag | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Fish SpeciesBarbless; No Bait | – | – | Year-round |
| Brook Trout | – | – | May 23 – Oct 31 |
| Brown Trout | – | – | May 23 – Oct 31 |
| Cutthroat Trout | – | – | May 23 – Oct 31 |
| 14" min | – | May 23 – Oct 31 | |
| Golden Trout | – | – | May 23 – Oct 31 |
| Lake Trout | – | – | May 23 – Oct 31 |
| Rainbow Trout | – | – | May 23 – Oct 31 |
| Steelhead | – | – | May 23 – Oct 31 |
| Wild Rainbow Trout | – | Catch & release only | May 23 – Oct 31 |
– means no limit is listed for this water. Rules not shown here follow Washington's statewide regulations.
Plan your Clearwater River trip
Clearwater River fishing: common questions
What fish have special regulations on Clearwater River?
14 species have rules specific to Clearwater River: Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Cutthroat Trout, Golden Trout, Lake Trout, Rainbow Trout, Steelhead, and Wild Rainbow Trout, and 6 more.
What is the brook trout limit on Clearwater River?
No size limit is listed for Brook Trout on Clearwater River (entire river). Season: May 23 – Oct 31. Rules differ across 3 sections of the river.
What is the brown trout limit on Clearwater River?
No size limit is listed for Brown Trout on Clearwater River (entire river). Season: May 23 – Oct 31. Rules differ across 3 sections of the river.
What is the cutthroat trout limit on Clearwater River?
Cutthroat Trout are catch and release only on Clearwater River (entire river). Season: May 23 – Oct 31. Limits change during the year. Rules differ across 3 sections of the river.
Is Clearwater River catch and release?
Some rules on Clearwater River are catch and release only, covering Cutthroat Trout, Wild Rainbow Trout, Chinook Salmon, and Wild Coho Salmon. Check the table for the section and dates that apply.
Do Washington statewide fishing rules apply on Clearwater River?
Where Clearwater River has its own rule for a species, that rule replaces the statewide limit. For species not listed on this page, Washington's statewide regulations apply. Regulations are set by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife; confirm with the official 2026 regulations before keeping a fish.
Other Washington waters with special regulations
- Yakima River · Benton
- Columbia River
- Wind River · Skamania
- Drano Lake · Skamania
- Naselle River · Pacific
- Roosevelt Lake · Ferry/Grant/Lincoln/Okanogan/Stevens
- Cowlitz River · Cowlitz/Lewis
- Green River · Duwamish
- Grays River · Wahkiakum
- Nisqually River · Pierce/Thurston
- Nooksack River · Whatcom
- Humptulips River · Grays Harbor
Take Clearwater River rules on the water
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