Mineral Lake fishing season extended through Oct. 31
Action: Opens the Mineral Lake game fish season through Oct. 31 annually.
Effective date: Oct. 1–31, 2026.
Species affected: Game fish.
Location: Mineral Lake (Lewis County).
Permanent rules:
- Game fish is open from the fourth Saturday in April through Oct. 31 annually.
- Statewide minimum size and daily bag limits apply.
Reason for action: In September 2025, WDFW received a rule change petition to extend the Mineral Lake fishing season through Oct. 31 annually. WDFW recently completed a public rule-making process that concluded with adoption of the annual season extension.
Mineral Lake previously closed to fishing after Sept. 30 to protect fingerling trout planted in the lake each October from premature harvest and catch-and-release mortality during recreational fisheries. Recent upgrades at Mossyrock Trout Hatchery allow fingerling rainbow trout destined for Mineral Lake to be held later into the fall before release. With the hatchery now able to hold those fish later into the fall, the October recreational fishing closure is no longer necessary.
Additional information: Mineral Lake is a 277-acre lake in Lewis County managed primarily to provide recreational opportunity to catch and harvest hatchery rainbow trout. The season extension provides anglers with additional opportunities to catch trout and other game fish during a productive time of year.
More information about Mineral Lake, including an interactive map, recent trout plants, and species-specific fishing prospects calendar, is available on WDFW’s lowland lakes webpage.
Fishery managers encourage anglers to sign up for Fishing Rule Change email notifications and to check for emergency rules on the WDFW website before fishing. Refer to the Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet for current regulations. Download the Fish Washington® mobile app to stay up to date on the go.
Information contact: Matthew Gardner, District Fish Biologist, 360-906-6746.
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