Nisqually River Fishing Regulations
Pierce/Thurston counties, Washington · 2026 size limits, bag limits, and seasons
Nisqually River is a river in Pierce/Thurston counties, Washington. It has its own fishing regulations for 17 species, including Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Cutthroat Trout, and Golden Trout, set separately for 4 sections of the river. These rules replace Washington's statewide limits on this water.
Map of Nisqually River
Fish with special rules on Nisqually River
Tap a fish for identification tips, size records, and the best bait.
Nisqually River limits by species (2026)
From Clear Creek (lat. 47.034918, long. -122.676735) to Kalama Creek (lat. 47.003837, long. -122.66121)
| Species | Size limit | Daily bag | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Fish SpeciesBarbless | – | – | Year-round |
| – | – | Oct 26 – Nov 22 · Closed Sundays and Mondays | |
 Atlantic Salmon | 12" min | 6 | Oct 26 – Nov 22 |
 Brook Trout | – | – | Oct 26 – Nov 22 |
 Brown Trout | – | – | Oct 26 – Nov 22 |
 Chinook Salmon | 12" min | 6 | Oct 26 – Nov 22 |
 Chum Salmon | – | Catch & release only | Oct 26 – Nov 22 |
 Coho Salmon | 12" min | 6 | Oct 26 – Nov 22 |
 Cutthroat Trout | – | Catch & release only | Oct 26 – Nov 22 |
| – | – | Oct 26 – Nov 22 | |
 Golden Trout | – | – | Oct 26 – Nov 22 |
 Lake Trout | – | – | Oct 26 – Nov 22 |
| Other Game Fish | – | – | Oct 26 – Nov 22 |
 Pink Salmon | 12" min | 6 | Oct 26 – Nov 22 |
 Rainbow Trout | – | – | Oct 26 – Nov 22 |
 Sockeye Salmon | 12" min | 6 | Oct 26 – Nov 22 |
 Steelhead | – | – | Oct 26 – Nov 22 |
| Wild Chinook SalmonWild fish only | – | Catch & release only | Oct 26 – Nov 22 |
| Wild Coho SalmonWild fish only | – | Catch & release only | Oct 26 – Nov 22 |
| Wild Rainbow TroutWild fish only | – | Catch & release only | Oct 26 – Nov 22 |
From the mouth to Clear Creek (lat. 47.034918, long. -122.676735)
| Species | Size limit | Daily bag | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Fish SpeciesBarbless | – | – | Year-round |
| – | – | Oct 1 – Nov 22, Aug 3 – Sep 30 · Closed Sundays and Mondays | |
| Atlantic Salmon | 12" min | 6 | Jul 1 – Nov 22 |
| Brook Trout | – | – | Jul 1 – Nov 22 |
| Brown Trout | – | – | Jul 1 – Nov 22 |
| Chinook Salmon | 12" min | 6 | Jul 1 – Nov 22 |
| Chum Salmon | – | Catch & release only | Jul 1 – Nov 22 |
| Coho Salmon | 12" min | 6 | Jul 1 – Nov 22 |
| Cutthroat Trout | – | – | Jul 1 – Nov 22 |
| – | Catch & release only | Jul 1 – Nov 22 | |
| Golden Trout | – | – | Jul 1 – Nov 22 |
| Lake Trout | – | – | Jul 1 – Nov 22 |
| Other Game Fish | – | – | Jul 1 – Nov 22 |
| Pink Salmon | 12" min | 6 | Jul 1 – Nov 22 |
| Rainbow Trout | – | – | Jul 1 – Nov 22 |
| Sockeye Salmon | 12" min | 6 | Jul 1 – Nov 22 |
| Steelhead | – | – | Jul 1 – Nov 22 |
| Wild Chinook SalmonWild fish only | – | Catch & release only | Jul 1 – Nov 22 |
| Wild Coho SalmonWild fish only | – | Catch & release only | Jul 1 – Nov 22 |
| Wild Rainbow TroutWild fish only | – | Catch & release only | Jul 1 – Nov 22 |
From Kalama Creek (lat. 47.003837, long. -122.66121) to 400' below LaGrande Powerhouse
| Species | Size limit | Daily bag | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Fish SpeciesBarbless; Single Point Hook; No Bait | – | – | Year-round |
| Brook Trout | – | – | Jul 1 – Jul 31 |
| Brown Trout | – | – | Jul 1 – Jul 31 |
| Cutthroat Trout | – | – | Jul 1 – Jul 31 |
| – | Catch & release only | Jul 1 – Jul 31 | |
| Golden Trout | – | – | Jul 1 – Jul 31 |
| Lake Trout | – | – | Jul 1 – Jul 31 |
| Other Game Fish | – | – | Jul 1 – Jul 31 |
| Rainbow Trout | – | – | Jul 1 – Jul 31 |
| Steelhead | – | – | Jul 1 – Jul 31 |
| Wild Rainbow TroutWild fish only | – | Catch & release only | Jul 1 – Jul 31 |
Tributaries downstream of Alder Dam unless otherwise listed
| Species | Size limit | Daily bag | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Fish SpeciesBarbless; Single Point Hook; No Bait | – | – | Year-round |
| Brook Trout | – | – | Jul 1 – Oct 31 |
| Brown Trout | – | – | Jul 1 – Oct 31 |
| Cutthroat Trout | – | – | Jul 1 – Oct 31 |
| – | Catch & release only | Jul 1 – Oct 31 | |
| Golden Trout | – | – | Jul 1 – Oct 31 |
| Lake Trout | – | – | Jul 1 – Oct 31 |
| Other Game Fish | – | – | Jul 1 – Oct 31 |
| Rainbow Trout | – | – | Jul 1 – Oct 31 |
| Steelhead | – | – | Jul 1 – Oct 31 |
| Wild Rainbow TroutWild fish only | – | Catch & release only | Jul 1 – Oct 31 |
– means no limit is listed for this water. Rules not shown here follow Washington's statewide regulations.
Plan your Nisqually River trip
Nisqually River fishing: common questions
What fish have special regulations on Nisqually River?
17 species have rules specific to Nisqually River: Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Cutthroat Trout, Golden Trout, Lake Trout, Other Game Fish, Rainbow Trout, and Steelhead, and 9 more.
What is the brook trout limit on Nisqually River?
No size limit is listed for Brook Trout on Nisqually River (from Clear Creek (lat. 47.034918, long. -122.676735) to Kalama Creek (lat. 47.003837, long. -122.66121)). Season: Oct 26 – Nov 22. Rules differ across 4 sections of the river.
What is the brown trout limit on Nisqually River?
No size limit is listed for Brown Trout on Nisqually River (from Clear Creek (lat. 47.034918, long. -122.676735) to Kalama Creek (lat. 47.003837, long. -122.66121)). Season: Oct 26 – Nov 22. Rules differ across 4 sections of the river.
What is the cutthroat trout limit on Nisqually River?
Cutthroat Trout are catch and release only on Nisqually River (from Clear Creek (lat. 47.034918, long. -122.676735) to Kalama Creek (lat. 47.003837, long. -122.66121)). Season: Oct 26 – Nov 22. Limits change during the year. Rules differ across 4 sections of the river.
Is Nisqually River catch and release?
Some rules on Nisqually River are catch and release only, covering Chum Salmon, Cutthroat Trout, Wild Chinook Salmon, Wild Coho Salmon, and Wild Rainbow Trout. Check the table for the section and dates that apply.
Do Washington statewide fishing rules apply on Nisqually River?
Where Nisqually 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
- Nooksack River · Whatcom
- Humptulips River · Grays Harbor
- Abernathy Creek · Cowlitz
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