Lake WhatcomLake PaddenBarnes CreekCain LakeLizard LakeReed LakeSilver CreekCedar LakeFriday CreekSouth Bay
4.4·680 catches
680
Logged catches
4.4
Top fish species at Lake Samish
See all species in the Fishbrain app
Check which species have trophy potential in Lake Samish
Lake Samish fishing reports
More catches in the app...
Continue browsing catches and catch locations in the Fishbrain app
When are Largemouth Bass biting on Lake Samish?
Learn what time of year and day to go fishing at Lake Samish. Download Fishbrain today to look for new fishing spots, scout new fishing access, or prep for your next trip.
Fishing regulations at Lake Samish, WA
Disclaimer: Always check local fishing regulations, water access rights and land ownership before fishing, regardless of any catches logged in that area by the Fishbrain community. Fishbrain has mapped millions of acres of government-owned land across the USA to help you identify potential fishing access, but you are responsible for ensuring compliance with all legal requirements.
Fishing regulations in Washington can change throughout the year. Make sure to check this page before fishing for the most up to date rules and regulations for the current season. Local regulations govern when you can fish, the max size of the fish you can keep, how many fish you can keep, and more.
Below you will see fishing regulations for catching Smallmouth bass as of April 1st, 2026. To view regulations for a different fish species, please click on your preferred species in the drop-down.
Smallmouth bass
Seasons
Open
Bag limit
10
Memorable
1 > 14
Measurement
Total Length
No min. size in lakes, ponds, and reservoirs. Only 1 smallmouth bass over 14" may be retained. Daily limit 10. No size restriction/daily limit in rivers, streams, and beaver ponds.
For more information please see State of Washington Fishing Regulations
Micropterus dolomieui
BIG BEAVER CREEK
from 1/4 mile upstream of Ross Lake markers to headwaters, including tributary streams and beaver ponds
- All species
- Selective gear rules.
- Trout
- July 1-Oct. 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit. Except: Release cutthroat trout and wild rainbow trout.
- Other game fish
- July 1-Oct. 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
CHANNEL CREEK
(Baker River tributary)
- All game fish
- Sat. before Memorial Day-Aug. 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
DAKOTA CREEK
from mouth (a line from the outermost headland of the south bank to a house at 1285 Runge Ave., Blaine, Washington, approx. 1/4 mile downstream from the Blaine Rd. Bridge) to Giles Rd. Bridge CRC (724)
- All species
- Selective gear rules.
- All game fish
- Sat. before Memorial Day-Dec. 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
KENDALL CREEK
from mouth through the hatchery to the hatchery boundary fence
- All species
- CLOSED WATERS.
NOOKSACK RIVER
from the Lummi Indian Reservation boundary to the Hwy. 544 Bridge in Everson CRC (794)
- All species
- Sat. before Memorial Day-Dec. 31
- Anti-snagging rule. Night closure.
- Trout
- Sat. before Memorial Day-Jan. 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit. Except: Cutthroat trout and wild rainbow trout: min. size 14".
- Steelhead (hatchery)
- Jan. 1-Jan. 31
- Min. size 20". Daily limit 2.
- Sat. before Memorial Day-Sept. 30
- Min. size 20". Daily limit 2.
- Oct. 1-Dec. 31
- Closed.
- Other game fish
- Sat. before Memorial Day-Jan. 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
- Salmon
- Aug. 1-Sept. 30
- Min. size 12". Daily limit 4 including no more than 2 wild coho. Release wild Chinook, pink, and chum.
- Oct. 1-Dec. 31
- Min. size 12". Daily limit 4 including no more than 2 wild coho. Release chum and pink.
from the Hwy. 544 Bridge in Everson to the yellow marker at the FFA high school barn in Deming CRC (794)
- All species
- Aug. 1-Dec. 31
- Anti-snagging rule. Night closure.
- Trout
- Oct. 1-Jan. 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit. Except: Cutthroat trout and wild rainbow trout: min. size 14".
- Steelhead (hatchery)
- Jan. 1-Jan. 31
- Min. size 20". Daily limit 2.
- Oct. 1-Dec. 31
- Closed.
- Other game fish
- Oct. 1-Jan. 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
- Salmon
- Aug. 1-Sept. 30
- Min. size 12". Daily limit 4 including no more than 2 wild coho. Release wild Chinook, pink, and chum.
- Oct. 1-Oct. 31
- Min. size 12". Daily limit 4 including no more than 2 wild coho. Release chum and pink.
- Nov. 1-Nov. 30
- Min. size 12". Daily limit 4 including no more than 2 wild coho and no more than 1 chum.
- Dec. 1-Dec. 31
- Min. size 12". Daily limit 4 including no more than 2 wild coho. Release chum.
from yellow marker at the FFA high school barn in Deming to confluence of North and South forks CRC (794)
- All species
- Aug. 1-Dec. 31
- Anti-snagging rule. Night closure.
- Trout
- Oct. 1-Jan. 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit. Except: Cutthroat trout and wild rainbow trout: min. size 14".
- Steelhead (hatchery)
- Jan. 1-Jan. 31
- Min. size 20". Daily limit 2.
- Oct. 1-Dec. 31
- Closed.
- Other game fish
- Oct. 1-Jan. 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
- Salmon
- Oct. 1-Oct. 31
- Min. size 12". Daily limit 4 including no more than 2 wild coho. Release chum and pink.
- Nov. 1-Nov. 30
- Min. size 12". Daily limit 4 including no more than 2 wild coho and no more than 1 chum.
- Dec. 1-Dec. 31
- Min. size 12". Daily limit 4 including no more than 2 wild coho. Release chum.
NOOKSACK RIVER, MIDDLE FORK
from mouth to the former City of Bellingham diversion Dam CRC (788)
- All species
- Selective gear rules.
- Nov. 1-Jan. 31
- Motors prohibited.
- Trout
- Sat. before Memorial Day-Jan. 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit. Except: Cutthroat trout and wild rainbow trout: min. size 14".
- Other game fish
- Sat. before Memorial Day-Jan. 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
NOOKSACK RIVER, NORTH FORK
from mouth to Hwy. 9
- All species
- CLOSED WATERS.
from the Hwy. 9 Bridge to the yellow marker at the upstream side of Kendall Hatchery CRC (790)
- All species
- Sat. before Memorial Day-Dec. 31
- Anti-snagging rule. Night closure.
- Nov. 1-Feb. 15
- Motors prohibited.
- Trout
- Sat. before Memorial Day-Feb. 15
- Statewide min. size/daily limit. Except: Cutthroat trout and wild rainbow trout: min. size 14".
- Steelhead (hatchery)
- Jan. 1-Feb. 15
- Min. size 20". Daily limit 2.
- Sat. before Memorial Day-Sept. 30
- Min. size 20". Daily limit 2.
- Oct. 1-Dec. 31
- Closed.
- Other game fish
- Sat. before Memorial Day-Feb. 15
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
- Salmon
- Oct. 1-Nov. 30
- Min. size 12". Daily limit 4 including no more than 2 wild coho. Release chum and pink.
from the yellow marker at the upstream side of Kendall Hatchery to Maple Creek CRC (790)
- All species
- Sat. before Memorial Day-Dec. 31
- Anti-snagging rule. Night closure.
- Nov. 1-Feb. 15
- Motors prohibited.
- Trout
- Sat. before Memorial Day-Feb. 15
- Statewide min. size/daily limit. Except: Cutthroat trout and wild rainbow trout: min. size 14".
- Steelhead (hatchery)
- Jan. 1-Feb. 15
- Min. size 20". Daily limit 2.
- Oct. 1-Dec. 31
- Closed.
- Other game fish
- Sat. before Memorial Day-Feb. 15
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
- Salmon
- Oct. 1-Nov. 30
- Min. size 12". Daily limit 4 including no more than 2 wild coho. Release chum and pink.
from Maple Creek to Nooksack Falls CRC (790)
- All species
- Selective gear rules.
- Nov. 1-Jan. 31
- Motors prohibited.
- Trout
- Sat. before Memorial Day-Jan. 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit. Except: Cutthroat trout and wild rainbow trout: min. size 14".
- Other game fish
- Sat. before Memorial Day-Jan. 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
NOOKSACK RIVER, SOUTH FORK
from mouth to Skookum Creek CRC (792)
- All species
- Internal combustion motors prohibited.
- Oct. 1-Jan. 31
- Only 1 single-point hook allowed.
- Oct. 1-Dec. 31
- Night closure.
- Trout
- Oct. 1-Jan. 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit. Except: Cutthroat trout and wild rainbow trout: min. size 14".
- Steelhead (hatchery)
- Jan. 1-Jan. 31
- Min. size 20". Daily limit 2.
- Oct. 1-Dec. 31
- Closed.
- Other game fish
- Oct. 1-Jan. 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
- Salmon
- Oct. 1-Oct. 15
- Min. size 12". Daily limit 6 including no more than 2 wild coho or 2 hatchery Chinook or 1 of each. Release chum, pink and wild Chinook.
- Oct. 16-Dec. 31
- Min. size 12". Daily limit 6 including no more than 2 wild coho or 2 Chinook or 1 of each. Release chum.
from Skookum Creek upstream to Wanlick Creek
- All species
- CLOSED WATERS.
from Wanlick Creek upstream including Wanlick Creek and all tributaries CRC (792)
- All species
- Fly fishing only.
- Trout
- Sat. before Memorial Day-Oct. 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit. Except: Release cutthroat trout and wild rainbow trout.
- Other game fish
- Sat. before Memorial Day-Oct. 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
ROSS LAKE TRIBUTARY STREAMS
and their tributaries from 1 mile upstream of Ross Lake to headwaters (except Ruby and Big Beaver creeks).
- All game fish
- July 1-Oct. 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
RUBY CREEK
- All species
- CLOSED WATERS.
STETATTLE CREEK
from mouth to Bucket Creek
- All species
- CLOSED WATERS.
THORNTON CREEK
- Trout
- Sat. before Memorial Day-Oct. 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit. Except: No min. size/ daily limit for cutthroat trout.
- Other game fish
- Sat. before Memorial Day-Oct. 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
WHATCOM CREEK
from mouth (a line from the flashing light at the southwest end of the Port of Bellingham North Terminal to the southernmost point of the dike surrounding the Georgia Pacific treatment pond) to the markers below footbridge below Dupont St. in Bellingham CRC (884)
- Trout
- Sat. before Memorial Day-July 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit. Except: Cutthroat trout and wild rainbow trout: min. size 14".
- Other game fish
- Sat. before Memorial Day-July 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
- Salmon
- Aug. 4-Sept. 10
- Min. size 12". Daily limit 1. Night closure. Antisnagging rule. Release all salmon other than hatchery Chinook. Open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays only.
from the markers below the footbridge below Dupont St. upstream to the footbridge
- All species
- CLOSED WATERS.
from footbridge below Dupont St. in Bellingham to stone bridge at Whatcom Falls Park CRC (884)
- All species
- Aug. 1-Oct. 31
- Anti-snagging rule. Night closure.
- Trout
- Sat. before Memorial Day-Oct. 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit. Except: Cutthroat trout and wild rainbow trout: min. size 14".
- Other game fish
- Sat. before Memorial Day-Oct. 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
from stone bridge at Whatcom Falls Park to Lake Whatcom CRC (884)
- All species
- Juvenile Anglers Only (under 15 years old).
- Trout
- 4th Sat. in Apr.-Oct. 31
- No min. size. Daily limit 2.
- Other game fish
- 4th Sat. in Apr.-Oct. 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
WHATCOM, LAKE TRIBUTARIES
all tributaries and that portion of Lake Whatcom between Electric Ave. Bridge and outlet dam
- All species
- CLOSED WATERS.
BAKER LAKE
CRC (825)
- All species
- Chumming permitted.
- Kokanee
- 4th Sat. in Apr.-Oct. 31
- Min. size 8". Max. size 18". Daily limit 10.
- Other game fish
- 4th Sat. in Apr.-Oct. 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
- Salmon
- July 15-Aug. 31
- Min. size 18". Daily limit 3. Release all salmon other than sockeye. Each angler aboard a vessel may deploy salmon angling gear until the salmon limit for all anglers aboard has been achieved.
200' radius around pump discharge at the south end of lake
- All species
- CLOSED WATERS.
CAIN LAKE
- All game fish
- 4th Sat. in Apr.-Oct. 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
DIABLO LAKE
- All species
- Two-Pole not allowed.
- All game fish
- Year-round
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
FAZON LAKE
- All species
- First Fri. in October-Jan. 27
- Fishing from any floating device prohibited.
- All game fish
- Year-round
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
GORGE LAKE
- All species
- Two-Pole not allowed.
- All game fish
- Year-round
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
HOZOMEEN LAKE
- All species
- Unlawful to use lead weights or lead jigs measuring 1 1/2" or less along the longest axis.
- All game fish
- 4th Sat. in Apr.-Oct. 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
KEEFE LAKE
- Smallmouth bass
- Year-round
- No min. size. Daily limit 15. Only 1 over 14" may be retained.
- Largemouth bass
- Year-round
- No min. size. Daily limit 10. Max. size 12", except 1 over 17" may be retained.
- Channel catfish
- Year-round
- No min. size. Daily limit 10.
- Walleye
- Year-round
- No min. size. Daily limit 16. Only 1 over 22" may be retained.
- Other game fish
- Year-round
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
PADDEN LAKE
- All game fish
- 4th Sat. in Apr.-Oct. 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
ROSS LAKE
refer to Ross Lake Tributaries for more information
- All species
- Selective gear rules. Two-Pole not allowed.
- Eastern brook trout
- July 1-Oct. 31
- No min. size. Daily limit 5.
- Other trout
- July 1-Oct. 31
- Min. size 16". Daily limit 1.
- Other game fish
- July 1-Oct. 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
SAMISH, LAKE
- Cutthroat trout
- Year-round
- Min. size 14". Daily limit 2. Cutthroat count toward trout daily limit.
- Other trout
- Year-round
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
- Smallmouth bass
- Year-round
- No min. size. Daily limit 15. Only 1 over 14" may be retained.
- Largemouth bass
- Year-round
- No min. size. Daily limit 10. Max. size 12", except 1 over 17" may be retained.
- Channel catfish
- Year-round
- No min. size. Daily limit 10.
- Walleye
- Year-round
- No min. size. Daily limit 16. Only 1 over 22" may be retained.
- Other game fish
- Year-round
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
SILVER LAKE
- All game fish
- 4th Sat. in Apr.-Oct. 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
SQUALICUM LAKE
- All species
- Two-Pole not allowed. Motors prohibited. Fly fishing only.
- Trout
- Year-round
- Min. size 14". Daily limit 2.
- Other game fish
- Year-round
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
SUNSET LAKE
- Smallmouth bass
- Year-round
- No min. size. Daily limit 15. Only 1 over 14" may be retained.
- Largemouth bass
- Year-round
- No min. size. Daily limit 10. Max. size 12", except 1 over 17" may be retained.
- Channel catfish
- Year-round
- No min. size. Daily limit 10.
- Walleye
- Year-round
- No min. size. Daily limit 16. Only 1 over 22" may be retained.
- Other game fish
- Year-round
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
TENNANT LAKE
- All species
- First Fri. in October-Jan. 27
- Fishing from any floating device prohibited.
- All game fish
- Year-round
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
TERRELL, LAKE
- All species
- First Sat. after Labor Day-Fri. Following First Sat. after Labor Day
- Fishing from any floating device except a dock prohibited.
- Oct. 1-Jan. 31
- Fishing from any floating device except a dock prohibited.
- All game fish
- Year-round
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
THORNTON LAKE, LOWER
- Trout
- Year-round
- Statewide min. size/daily limit. Except: No min. size/ daily limit for cutthroat trout.
- Other game fish
- Year-round
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
TOAD LAKE
- All game fish
- 4th Sat. in Apr.-Oct. 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
WHATCOM, LAKE
that portion of Lake Whatcom between Electric Ave. Bridge and outlet dam
- All species
- CLOSED WATERS.
above Electric Ave. Bridge
- All species
- Two-Pole not allowed.
- Year-round
- See DOH Fish Consumption Advisories page 24.
- Trout
- 4th Sat. in Apr.-Oct. 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit. Except: Release cutthroat.
- Other game fish
- 4th Sat. in Apr.-Oct. 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
BAKER RIVER
from mouth to the lower Baker Dam
- All species
- CLOSED WATERS.
SKAGIT RIVER
from Cascade River Rd. (Marblemount Bridge) to Gorge powerhouse at Newhalem CRC (830)
- All species
- Internal combustion motors prohibited. Selective gear rules.
- All game fish
- June 1-Jan. 31
- Catch-and-release. Except: 2 hatchery steelhead may be retained.
SHANNON, LAKE
- All species
- Chumming permitted.
- Kokanee
- 4th Sat. in Apr.-Oct. 31
- Min. size 8". Daily limit 10.
- Other game fish
- 4th Sat. in Apr.-Oct. 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
Regulations for
48°39′40.9″N 122°22′51.4″W
FAQ about Lake Samish fishing
Lake Samish is a lake located in Whatcom County, Washington, United States. Its coordinates are:
48°39′40.9″N 122°22′51.4″W
.Find the best fishing spots on Lake Samish by looking at where other anglers have caught fish. This can easily be done in the where it is also possible to see big fish potential and how good fishing is right now along with Garmin® depth maps.
The most common species in Lake Samish are:
- Smallmouth bass - 119 members reported to have caught this fish
- Largemouth bass - 49 members reported to have caught this fish
- Yellow perch - 17 members reported to have caught this fish
The latest Lake Samish fishing reports are:
- @Zenith reported a nice Smallmouth bass.
- @RossK1776 reported a nice Smallmouth bass.
- @Jacewheeler17 reported a nice Cutthroat trout.
- @Zenith reported a nice Rainbow trout.
- @Andrew1108 reported a nice Smallmouth bass.
Download Fishbrain and fish smarter
Unlimited access to the best fishing spot finder in the game. Get all the fishing intel you need to start catching more, and bigger, fish.
Free trial available