Fishing Vancouver Lake

AKA: Vancouver Lake Regional Park

Popular Fish Species
Vancouver Lake Fishing Video
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Vancouver Lake, WA

Popular Fish Species Vancouver Lake, WA

Crappie Fishing

Vancouver Lake is home to healthy populations of both black and white crappie. When fishing for crappie, light line and small hooks are key when fishing live or prepared baits. Crappie jigs are also productive her in a wide variety of colors. With a history of good crappie fishing, Vancouver Lake continues to deliver good quantities of nice, fat slabs. The lake has healthy populations of both white crappie and black crappie. These two species typically tend to school separately. However, once located around cover, you may find that you catch both species, due to the fact they often share the same cover. When the lake freezes over, ice fishing is often a great way to catch a bunch of hungry of crappie. Crappie fishing can be found in varying size schools, hanging around brush, vegetation, wood or other cover. Using a fish finder any time of year can help locate these crappie schools, which tend to stack vertically around cover. Live bait and small jigs are the most common method for crappie here. In spring and fall focus on the 8 to 12 foot range. As the crappie move deep in summer and winter, follow points out deep, as well as find ledges near channels, especially areas with brush or timber in deeper water. The best time to catch crappie tends to be at dawn and dusk.

Vancouver Lake Popular Fish - Yellow Perch

Yellow Perch Fishing

Yellow perch tend to spawn in the April to May timeframe, and the spawn has been strong for years at Vancouver Lake. As a result, the lake continues to maintain a very healthy population of yellow perch, which have been a mainstay in the fishery for decades. They are fun to catch in winter when ice fishing as well. Yellow perch are great table fare, and are a food source for many predator fish in the lake. Fishing for yellow perch is simple, their primary diet consists of minnows and other small fish, insects and worms. Yellow perch tend to gather in small groups and hang out on relatively deep structure, near cover and/or drop-offs. Use a small hook and sinker. Bait a small hook with minnows, worms or small jigs using 6 to 10 pound line.

Vancouver Lake Popular Fish - Channel Catfish

Channel Catfish Fishing

Vancouver Lake has held a dependable population of channel catfish for many years now. The typical fish are about 2 pounds, with larger ones caught frequently. For weekend anglers, most any rod and reel will work for catching channel catfish, as long as the line is strong enough. For serious catfish enthusiasts, using the right equipment enhances success, especially when you hook one of the big boys. A medium action, to medium-heavy action rod is ideal, in the 6' to 7' range. Use a slip sinker or Carolina rig with popular catfish baits on at least 10-pound line. Use sharp hooks with bait holders on the shank, or circle hooks for live bait. The state record channel catfish is over 37 pounds, and Vancouver Lake holds some pretty big ones. Night fishing for catfish often delivers better results than daytime fishing. Fishing for channel catfish is often most productive around any kind of structure in the area. In Spring channel catfish migrate toward incoming water, so stay up river away from the main lake. In early summer look for rocky banks, the bigger the rocks the better. In summer and winter deeper structure is where to look. The river end of the lake is often the area where the bigger catfish are caught. Road beds, creek channels and rocky points are all good places to begin.

Vancouver Lake Fishing Video

Fish species to fish for...

Guide to fishing for largemouth bass, channel catfish, black crappie, white crappie, rainbow trout, bluegill, pumpkinseed sunfish, warmouth, yellow perch, coho salmon and sturgeon at Vancouver Lake in Washington.

"No wake" is the speed limit for all boats on Vancouver Lake. This 2,300-acre lake is located in the southwest corner of the state, on the western outskirts of Vancouver. It is a very diverse fishery with multiple species available, providing good fishing year round. Popular fish species found in Vancouver Lake include bass, yellow perch, catfish, salmon, sunfish and crappie. Fishing from shore, or from non-motorized boats, such as canoes or kayaks, is recommended here. Anglers will find more than 8 miles of shoreline to explore. Where La Frambois Rd ends, on the south shore of the lake, there is an unimproved boat launch ramp and parking.

Primary fish species residing in Vancouver Lake

Click images for fishing tips and details about each species.

Vancouver Lake Amenities

Marina: NO
Boat Rental: NO
Boat Launch Ramp: YES
Campgrounds: NEARBY
RV Hookups: NEARBY
Lodging: NEARBY
Convenience Store: YES
Bait & Tackle: YES
Restaurant: YES

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Public Boat Launch Ramps & Landings

Vancouver Lake Boat Ramp
Located mid lake, on the south side of the lake, off La Frambois Road, this is a single-lane, concrete ramp with gravel parking.