Free fishing weekend to take place June 10-11

COLFAX — Looking to catch fish over the weekend in Whitman County? Be sure to head out Saturday and Sunday, June 10 and 11 for Washington’s free fishing weekend. During this weekend, certain species of fish will be available to catch in Washington for free starting Saturday, June 10 and going through Sunday, June 11.

There are only select fish that will be available to catch without a proper license over the weekend, other fish will be considered illegal if caught without holding a proper fishing license for them.

Whitman County is home to various ponds and areas to fish over the weekend that are highlighted below. This is a great opportunity to get out with your kids for a weekend to teach them about fishing, while also learning about nature and wildlife.

For the fish that will be available to catch for free over the weekend, they are as follows:

Rainbow trout and bass in lowland lakes, lingcod, cabezon, and rockfish on the Washington coast, and shad in the Columbia river.

Along with the free fishing weekend, there are also free vehicle access passes, no discover pass required, and the two-pole endorsement.

For some local fishing locations in Whitman County, be sure to look for these fishing spots:

Gilchrist Pond: Just six miles south of Colfax, Washington is Gilchrist Pond. You will find Rainbow Trout here, which are available to catch for free during the weekend of June 10 and 11.

Just over 1,500 rainbow trout were stocked in the pond in late April of 2023. Both the Tucannon and Spokane Hatchery helped stock the pond full of trout.

Pampa Pond: Pampa pond is a small 2.10 acre location just southwest of LaCrosse. It sits at an elevation of 1376 feet.

Fishing from any floating device is prohibited. If fishing at this pond you will find rainbow trout.

Garfield Pond: Garfield Pond sits near the town of Garfield at just .50 acres with an elevation of 2332 feet. There is good shoreline access at this location. This is stocked year-round with open fishing all season.

As with most fishing spots in Whitman County, you will find rainbow trout here.

At this fishing spot there is a special restriction, only juvenile or disability with a reduced fee license at this lake.

Garfield was stocked with 1,500 rainbow trout on April 28 from the Tucannon hatchery. the hatchery also put 1,000 fish in Pampa pond the same day.

For more information on free fishing weekend in Washington, head to https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/free.