Question 1

Where do the numbers come from?

Accepted Answer

Fish counts, catch rates and rules come from WDFW and other public agencies, stored exactly as published. Tides are from NOAA, river flow from USGS and weather from Open-Meteo.

Question 2

How often is the data updated?

Accepted Answer

Sources are checked every hour. WDFW publishes counts and dock checks on its own schedule, often a few days after the fact, and can revise numbers after publishing them.

Question 3

Why doesn't my water have a chart?

Accepted Answer

A chart needs an agency count or dock check for that water and species. Where none is published you still get the rules, conditions and angler reports.

Question 4

Are the regulations official?

Accepted Answer

They are WDFW's printed rules shown word for word, plus any emergency rule changes. Rules change often, so always check the official WDFW regulations before fishing.

Question 5

How is the Best Times score worked out?

Accepted Answer

Each of the next five days is scored out of 100 from whether fish are around (fish counts and angler reports) and the water's conditions: tides, light and wind on the salt; river flow, rain, cloud and wind on rivers. Closures stop the ranking.

Question 6

What's included for free?

Accepted Answer

Every water and species, the latest counts, catch rates, rules and conditions, three seasons of chart history, posting reports and reading the latest one on any water, and alerts for 1 location shown in the app.

Question 7

What does Angler+ add?

Accepted Answer

Best Times on every water, alerts on as many locations as you like sent by email, every report on every board and every season on every chart. $4.99 a month or $29 a year, with a 7-day free trial.

Question 8

How do I cancel?

Accepted Answer

Go to Account, then Billing, then Manage. Cancelling stops the next charge and you keep Angler+ until the end of what you have paid for.

Question 9

How do points and levels work?

Accepted Answer

A public catch report earns 10 points, with more for a photo or video (5), what you caught it on (5), and sharing it (15). Likes from other anglers add more. Levels run from Fry to Fish Whisperer.

Question 10

Something looks wrong — how do I tell you?

Accepted Answer

Email hello@wafishforecast.com. Corrections to the data are especially welcome.

How it works

Find your water

Read the dashboard

Check the rules

Pick your day

Log your catch

Get alerted

Questions