Best Fishing Lakes In Washington State
Guide to top places to fish for bass, catfish, crappie and more in WA.
Banks Lake, Lake Chelan, Lake Sammamish, Lake Umatilla, Lake Washington, Lake Wenatchee, Moses Lake, Osoyoos Lake, Potholes Reservoir, Riffe Lake and Roosevelt Lake are the most popular places for fishing in Washington, offering anglers the chance to pursue a variety of fish species. Click here for a list of popular ice fishing destinations in Washington. The Boat Rental Page lists options for fishing boat rentals at some of these lakes.
Washington state is home to a wide range of fishing lakes, providing anglers with diverse opportunities to pursue their favorite fish species. The purpose of this page is to share basic information about the best fishing lakes in the state, and the species found in each lake. The state boasts both warm water lakes and cold water lakes, each offering its unique fishing experiences.
Warm water lakes in Washington, such as Lake Washington, Lake Sammamish, and Lake Roosevelt, provide excellent fishing for species like largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, walleye, and panfish like crappie and perch. These lakes are known for their abundance of vegetation, submerged structures, and warm water temperatures, making them ideal habitats for warm water fish species. Anglers often target these lakes during the summer months when the fish are more active and feeding closer to the surface.
On the other hand, Washington's cold water lakes, including Lake Chelan, Lake Wenatchee, and Lake Cle Elum, offer fishing opportunities for species like trout and salmon. These lakes are known for their colder water temperatures and are typically stocked with rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, and kokanee salmon. Anglers can enjoy fishing from the shoreline or from boats, using various techniques such as trolling, fly fishing, or casting with lures or bait.
The diverse range of fish species found in Washington's fishing lakes provides anglers with ample choices and opportunities to pursue their preferred catches. Whether you enjoy the thrill of battling bass in warm water lakes or the excitement of hooking a trout or salmon in cold water lakes, Washington offers a variety of fishing experiences for all types of anglers. The state's beautiful landscapes and abundance of fishing lakes make it a sought-after destination for fishing enthusiasts seeking memorable adventures.
Bass Fishing Lakes
American Lake, Banks Lake, Lake Chelan, Mayfield Lake, Lake Sammamish, Lake Tapps, Lake Washington, Lake Whatcom, Moses Lake, Potholes Reservoir and Silver Lake are considered the best options for largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass. More...
Catfish Fishing Lakes
These major lakes include Banks Lake, Lake Umatilla, Moses Lake and Vancouver Lake are favorite options for channel, blue, white and flathead catfish. More...
Crappie Fishing Lakes
Banks Lake, Lake Tapps, Lake Umatilla, Lake Washington, Potholes Reservoir, Riffe Lake and Roosevelt Lake are the most popular for black and white crappie. More...
Sunfish, Perch & Panfish Fishing Lakes
Banks Lake, Lake Sammamish, Lake Umatilla, Lake Washington, Moses Lake, Ozette Lake, Palmer Lake, Potholes Reservoir, Riffe Lake and Roosevelt Lake are popular spots to fish for bluegill, bream, perch and other sunfish. More...
Walleye Fishing Lakes
Banks Lake, Lake Umatilla, Lake Wallula, Lake Washington, Moses Lake, Potholes Reservoir and Rufus Woods Lake are considered some of the better lakes for walleye fishing. More...
Trout Fishing Lakes
American Lake, Banks Lake, Cle Elum Lake, Kachess Lake, Lake Chelan, Lake Crescent, Lake Washington, Lake Wenatchee, Moses Lake, Omak Lake, Potholes Reservoir, Riffe Lake, Rock Lake, Roosevelt Lake, Ross Lake and Rufus Woods Lake are the favorite options for rainbow, cutthroat, brook, brown and lake trout. More...
Salmon Fishing Lakes
Alder Lake, American Lake, Baker Lake, Banks Lake, Keechelus Lake, Lake Chelan, Lake Cushman, Lake Sammamish, Lake Umatilla, Lake Washington, Lake Whatcom, Osoyoos Lake, Riffe Lake and Roosevelt Lake are among the most popular for atlantic, chinook, chum, coho, kokanee, pink and sockeye salmon fishing. More...
The Marinas Page offers a list of popular marinas on some of these lakes.
Visit the Washington fishing page for links to information covering a wide variety of fish species and destinations in the state. Visit the Washington map to identify your best route to these top fishing locations.
Best Destinations By State.
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