Lake Sammamish Fishing Regulations
King County, Washington · 2026 size limits, bag limits, and seasons
Lake Sammamish is a lake in King County, Washington. It has its own fishing regulations for 12 species, including Atlantic Salmon, Channel Catfish, Chinook Salmon, and Coho Salmon, set separately for 2 sections of the lake. These rules replace Washington's statewide limits on this water.
Map of Lake Sammamish
Fish with special rules on Lake Sammamish
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Lake Sammamish limits by species (2026)
Entire lake
| Species | Size limit | Daily bag | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Fish SpeciesTwo-Pole not allowed. | – | – | Always open |
 Atlantic SalmonRelease all salmon other than hatchery coho. · Applies to all salmon other than coho. | – | Catch & release only | Dec 1 – May 31, Oct 1 – Nov 30 |
 Channel Catfish | – | 10 | Year-round |
 Chinook SalmonApplies to all salmon other than coho. · Release all salmon other than hatchery coho. | – | Catch & release only | Oct 1 – Nov 30, Dec 1 – May 31 |
 Coho Salmon | 12" min | 4 | Oct 1 – Nov 30 |
| Applies to all salmon other than coho. · Release all salmon other than hatchery coho. | – | Catch & release only | Oct 1 – Nov 30, Dec 1 – May 31 |
| Hatchery Coho SalmonNo Catch Record Card required. · Salmon count as part of trout daily limit. · Hatchery fish only | 12" min | – | Dec 1 – May 31 |
 Largemouth BassExcept 1 over 17” may be retained. | 12" max | 10 | Year-round |
 Pink SalmonRelease all salmon other than hatchery coho. · Applies to all salmon other than coho. | – | Catch & release only | Dec 1 – May 31, Oct 1 – Nov 30 |
 Rainbow TroutRelease all rainbow trout over 20”. | – | – | Dec 1 – Jun 30 |
 Smallmouth BassOnly 1 over 14” may be retained. | – | 15 | Year-round |
 Sockeye SalmonApplies to all salmon other than coho. · Release all salmon other than hatchery coho. | – | Catch & release only | Year-round, Oct 1 – Nov 30, Dec 1 – May 31 · Year-round |
 SteelheadRelease all steelhead over 20”. | – | – | Dec 1 – Jun 30 |
 WalleyeOnly 1 over 22” may be retained. | – | 16 | Year-round |
Within 100 yards of the mouth of Issaquah Creek
| Species | Size limit | Daily bag | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Fish Species | – | – | Aug 16 – Nov 30 · Closed |
– means no limit is listed for this water. Rules not shown here follow Washington's statewide regulations.
Plan your Lake Sammamish trip
Lake Sammamish fishing: common questions
What fish have special regulations on Lake Sammamish?
12 species have rules specific to Lake Sammamish: Atlantic Salmon, Channel Catfish, Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Hatchery Coho Salmon, Largemouth Bass, Pink Salmon, and Rainbow Trout, and 4 more.
What is the atlantic salmon limit on Lake Sammamish?
Atlantic Salmon are catch and release only on Lake Sammamish (entire lake). Season: Dec 1 – May 31, Oct 1 – Nov 30.
What is the channel catfish limit on Lake Sammamish?
No size limit is listed for Channel Catfish on Lake Sammamish (entire lake), and the daily bag limit is 10.
What is the chinook salmon limit on Lake Sammamish?
Chinook Salmon are catch and release only on Lake Sammamish (entire lake). Season: Oct 1 – Nov 30, Dec 1 – May 31.
Is Lake Sammamish catch and release?
Some rules on Lake Sammamish are catch and release only, covering Atlantic Salmon, Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Pink Salmon, and Sockeye Salmon. Check the table for the section and dates that apply.
Do Washington statewide fishing rules apply on Lake Sammamish?
Where Lake Sammamish 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 Lake Sammamish rules on the water
Identify your catch, check if it's a keeper, and log it. CatchVault is on iOS, with Android on the way.