There is no entrance fee or extra cost to participate in the WDFW Fishing Derby. Anyone with a valid Resident, or Non Resident 2018 Annual Freshwater or Combination fishing license may participate in the Fishing Derby. Anglers must follow all rules, regulations and daily limits as outlined in the current fishing-regulations pamphlet, and emergency rule changes set by WDFW. 1-3 day temporary combination licenses are NOT valid for Game Fish for the 8-day period beginning the fourth Saturday in April, unless you are an active duty residence military personnel.

 

The law does not require children 14 years of age and under to obtain fishing licenses; however they must actively participate and be able to demonstrate the ability to handle the gear by themselves. They must follow all the rules and restrictions for that particular species and/or body of water and are allowed the same daily limit as an adult. Adults may assist and are not required to have a license if they will not be fishing/harvesting themselves, but children must be present and take part in the entire process.

 

WDFW employees and their immediate family member(s) are prohibited from participating in the Fishing Derby; however WDFW employees, and immediate family may fish on his/her personal time in stocked lakes that contain prize fish. No WDFW employee, or immediate family member(s) will be eligible to claim any derby prize(s).

 

All anglers who take part in free fishing weekend can participate in the derby and redeem any tags caught on that weekend.

Dates:
The WDFW Fishing Derby officially starts on the Lowland Lake Opener (April 28, 2018) and ends on October 31, 2018.

After the official end of the derby October 31, 2018, successful anglers must call WDFW by 5:00 pm, Pacific Daylight Time, on Friday November 2, 2018 to report catching a derby tag. Tags that are not phoned into WDFW by 5:00 pm on Friday November 2, 2018 are not valid for prize redemption. Successful anglers with tags needing to be presented to the derby prize donor must also submit the tags to the vendors no later than the donor’s close of business on November 9, 2018.

Donors:
WDFW does not endorse any individual fishing derby prize donor. Each donor is responsible for their product/service and fulfillment of each prize.

Lakes:
WDFW will determine which lakes to stock with tagged derby prize fish. The list of lakes will be made available to the public. Anglers must follow all rules, regulations and daily limits as outlined in the current fishing-regulations pamphlet, and emergency rule changes set by WDFW.  Tagged derby fish caught in violation of any rule or statute are subject to seizure and forfeiture under the provisions in RCW Chapter 77.15.

Prizes, Claims Process, and Derby Tags:
WDFW will maintain a list of all available prizes.  Each tagged fish has a corresponding dealer and prize.  In order to claim a prize, a successful angler must first contact WDFW by phone at 360-902-2464 and provide the tag information.  WDFW will provide the specific donor prize information corresponding to the tag, and the successful angler will be required to present the tag at the fishing derby prize donor’s place of business to claim the prize.  In a few cases donors have provided prizes to WDFW—mostly involving gift cards—and if the tag that an angler phones into WDFW corresponds to one of those prizes WDFW will inform the angler and mail the prize to the angler, registered receipt required.  WDFW does not endorse any individual fishing derby prize donor.  Each donor is responsible for their product/service and fulfillment of each prize. After the official end of the derby October 31, 2018 remaining tags that are not phoned in for redemption by Friday November 2, 2018, at 5:00 pm, are not valid for prize redemption.