LivewellWashington · Lake
Columbia River (Lake Wallula)
Is the fish you caught here safe to eat? Below is every consumption advisory on file for Columbia River (Lake Wallula), by species and size, in plain English — plus what's legal to keep.
4 species with advisories · contaminants: Dioxins, Mercury, PCBs
What's safe to eat from Columbia River (Lake Wallula)
Channel Catfish
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| All sizes | General population | Do not eat due to elevated Dioxin and PCB. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-09-22
Common Carp
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| All sizes | General population | Limit to one meal per month due to elevated Dioxin and PCB. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-09-22
Largemouth Bass
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| All sizes | General population | Safe to eat as part of a regular diet. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-09-22
Smallmouth Bass
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| All sizes | Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 | For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: limit to two meals per week due to elevated Mercury. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-09-22
How to prepare fish from Columbia River (Lake Wallula)
Some contaminants build up in fat and skin, so cleaning and cooking can lower your exposure. Others — mercury and PFAS — are in the muscle itself and trimming does nothing.
Dioxins
- Skin the fish — most of the contaminant sits in the fat just under the skin.
- Trim the fatty areas away: the belly flap, the top of the back, and the dark lateral line down each side.
- Cook on a rack — grill, broil, or bake — so the fat drips off the fillet.
- Throw the drippings out; don't use them for soup, sauce, or chowder.
- Choose smaller, younger fish — they've had less time to build it up.
PCBs
- Skin the fish — most of the contaminant sits in the fat just under the skin.
- Trim the fatty areas away: the belly flap, the top of the back, and the dark lateral line down each side.
- Cook on a rack — grill, broil, or bake — so the fat drips off the fillet.
- Throw the drippings out; don't use them for soup, sauce, or chowder.
- Choose smaller, younger fish — they've had less time to build it up.
Is it legal to keep?
These are Washington's statewide limits — a water-specific rule may override them. Always verify the current regulations before keeping a fish.
| Species | Size | Daily limit | Open season | Keep season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | — | 5 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Smallmouth Bass | — | 5 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Walleye | — | — | Year-round | Same as open |
| Rainbow Trout | — | 5 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Channel Catfish | — | 5 | Year-round | Same as open |
Official rules: Washington — Washington DFW