Braving the winter weather to fish for steelhead is a tradition for many in Washington. The steelhead, a sea-going rainbow trout that can exceed 30 pounds, is the official State Fish and a highly regarded game fish. While steelhead are known as a “fish of a thousand casts,” fishing for…

Fill your December days with these great Washington fishing and shellfishing opportunities! Story originally published in the Northwest Sportsman Magazine December issue This month, shrug off the “bah, humbug” spirit and instead take in all the merriment that’ll have you “fa-la-la-ing” from the coast to Puget Sound and across the…

Volunteer Jim Kujala makes a big impact while cleaning thousands of fish per year Jim Kujala says he has time on his hands (and possibly some fish slime), when asked why he devotes a significant amount of time volunteering for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). “Jim always…

The number of wildlife hit by vehicles on Washington roadways is staggering Try using a little less pressure on the accelerator this fall when driving; deer are especially active in November as the rut (mating season) is at its peak. Additionally, many animals from each of Washington’s three deer species…

You may be familiar with the cuddly teddy bear named after Theodore Roosevelt, but the 26th president’s name was also passed along to the mighty elk of Western Washington. Roosevelt elk are one of two subspecies native to Washington, the other being Rocky Mountain elk. Interstate 5 divides the two…

Autumn is a popular time for many to get outdoors and enjoy all of the wonderful opportunities Washington has to offer. Whether hiking in to view autumn colors, scouting your next hunting location, or bringing the family to your favorite fishing spot, there are so many ways to enjoy autumn…

The Department awarded $30,000 amongst selected applicants. —

Trout fishing during the holiday is a great way to opt outside away from the mall madness While post-turkey day shopping sprees are on the minds of many, others will pull the plug for a chance to catch more than 60,000 planted jumbo-sized rainbow trout at 23 statewide lakes. “The…

The salmon migration is in full swing and right now is the perfect time to get an upfront view of their majestic journey Fall and early winter are the best time to view salmon moving into rivers and streams as they prepare to spawn. And many of the top places…