Fishing Report For Lake Cushman, WA

Current Report: Good

Stocked kokanee populate the lake in schools of catchable size, many around 12" to 18". Locating schools and establishing the depth for the day, is key. There is not a lot of fishing pressure here, so fishing can be quite good at times.

FALL. In early Fall, kokanee migrated into spawning grounds, along the shoreline of the lake, or upstream in rivers and tributaries. In the weeks just prior to the spawn, they gathered in sizeable schools near the mouths of these inflows. The spawn typically occurs in mid to late September. Kokanee fishing is good from 8 to 20 feet deep. Casting or trolling spinners, spoons, or kokanee rigs works well during the spawn. Now that late Fall has arrived, these schools have moved out to deeper structure in the basin. They are now being caught in 15 to 40 feet of water, often suspending above the structure.

WINTER. When ice fishing in Winter, kokanee are typically caught from 25 to 60 deep. On occasion they move deeper. Ice jigs, spoons, PowerBait, ShrimpZ, shoepeg corn and maggots are popular ice fishing baits here.

SPRING. During late Spring kokanee typically move closer to the surface where phytoplankton blooms become more abundant, providing a rich food source. Kokanee will feed heavily on this plankton in 10 to 20 feet of water, until surface temperatures reach the high 50's. Kokanee stage shallower, in tributary mouths, upper river arms, and warmer, food-rich pockets as they begin to move toward spawning reaches. Casting or trolling spinners, spoons, or kokanee rigs works well during this period.

SUMMER. Downriggers or leaded line are the two primary methods for catching kokanee here, while trolling. Kokanee school up and hang out in 25 to 80 feet deep, over deeper water, usually above some form of structure. The ideal water temperature is mid to low 50's. Identify the depth for that temperature range, and the kokanee will be hanging out in that depth range. They are also caught in 10 to 25 feet of water, early morning and evening around flats and points. Worm harnesses and wedding ring spinner setups are popular when trolled behind a 4" dodger. Locals are tipping these baits with shoepeg white corn, PowerBait, Z-Man Scented ShrimpZ, or live nightcrawlers to helps attract bites. 15 to 30 feet deep is the ideal depth to work in these warmer months. Trolling these baits between 1.2 mph and 1.8 mph is a good speed for these kokes. PowerBait, Z-Man Scented ShrimpZ and scented shoepeg corn, spoons and kokanee spinner rigs all work well for slow drifting, or trolling.

Current Report: Good To Very Good

These cutthroat trout in Lake Cushman don't get much fishing pressure, so they tend to grow to bragging size before getting caught. Twenty-inch cuts are quite common. Fly fishing is not covered in this website, but cutthroat trout are being caught on plenty of other lures and bait.

FALL. As late Fall sets in, cooling water temperatures are pushing trout deeper again. Anglers are catching them 15 to 30 feet deep on points, rocky structure, humps, and anywhere baitfish are gathering. Now that they had a full summer to grow, there are some bragging size cutthroat catches, with 20 inch fish being taken fairly often. Small spinners, spoons, miniature crankbaits and swimbaits are catching cutthroat, as are salmon eggs and prepared baits.

WINTER. When Winter sets in, and the lake freezes over, ice fishing is quite good here. Early risers are having the best success just after sunrise. Jigging spoons and jigs tipped with bait are catching nice limits of cutthroat, out of 20 to 40 feet of water. Occasionally these cutthroats will drop to around 80 feet deep.

SPRING. As water begins to warm in early Spring, cutthroat trout move from their winter holding areas into shallow, warmer water - 6 to 25 feet deep. They seek our incoming water from snow-melt runoff. Generally, cutthroats will be drawn to these areas to spawn in clear, shallow water. Most cutthroat will be caught early in the morning or late afternoon. A wide variety of small spinners and spoons are catching most of the fish. Later in Spring trout are caught 15 to 40 feet deep.

SUMMER. Once Summer is here to stay, the warmer water drives cutthroat deeper, 25 to 80 feet deep. They seek out deep holes near shallow-water feeding areas. Fishing is best from dusk, throughout the night, and early in the morning in 6 to 20 feet of water. Trolling, using downriggers or leaded line, and drift fishing with bait, produce the majority of bites.