Best fishing lakes in Washington: 12 lakes and what bites

The lakes at a glance

1. Lake Chelan

Lake Chelan covers 33,300 acres. It holds lake trout, kokanee salmon, trout and smallmouth bass. It goes down to about 1486 ft. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and a steep ledge to work.

Lake Chelan today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

2. Banks Lake

At 26,900 acres of water, Banks Lake is a big lake. Expect walleye, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass and yellow perch. At about 177 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and a wind-blown bank worth a first look.

Banks Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

3. Riffe Lake

Riffe Lake is a reservoir of some 11,800 acres. It lies about 4.5 miles northeast of Morton. Trout, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass and bluegill are the draw. The deepest water is around 360 ft. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work. Riffe Lake is impounded by Mossyrock Dam, the tallest dam in Washington state.

Riffe Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

4. Lake Washington

Lake Washington spreads over 21,600 acres of water. It lies right by Yarrow Point. It holds trout, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and yellow perch. It goes down to about 214 ft. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start. Lake Washington is the second-largest natural lake in Washington state, after Lake Chelan.

Lake Washington today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

5. Moses Lake

Moses Lake is a natural lake of some 6,800 acres. The lake is about 53 miles south of Richland. Expect crappie, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and walleye. The deepest water is around 38 ft. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look.

Moses Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

6. Potholes Reservoir

At about 15,000 acres, Potholes Reservoir is a big lake. It lies within an easy drive of Richland (about 47 miles). O'Sullivan Dam holds it on the Crab Creek. The fish here are largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, trout and walleye. It goes down to about 142 ft.

Potholes Reservoir today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

7. Lake Whatcom

Lake Whatcom spreads over about 4,610 acres. You will find it right by Geneva. It holds kokanee salmon, trout, smallmouth bass and bluegill. At about 350 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look.

Lake Whatcom today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

8. Lake Sammamish

Lake Sammamish spreads over 4,900 acres of water. The lake is next to West Lake Sammamish. The fish here are yellow perch, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass and trout. It goes down to about 105 ft.

Lake Sammamish today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

9. Lake Roosevelt

At 80,000 acres of water, Lake Roosevelt is a huge piece of water. The lake is within an easy drive of Spokane (about 36 miles). Like most lakes its size in Washington, it should hold largemouth bass, walleye, crappie and bluegill. Lake Roosevelt, impounded by Grand Coulee Dam, is the largest reservoir in Washington by surface area.

Lake Roosevelt today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

10. Ross Lake

Ross Lake covers about 8,640 acres. It lies within an easy drive of Bellingham (about 65 miles). It holds trout. At about 540 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and a sheltered cove: good places to start. Ross Lake has no anadromous fish runs because Ross Dam blocks salmon migration up the Skagit River.

Ross Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

11. Palmer Lake

Palmer Lake is a natural lake of 2,100 acres of water. The lake is near Oroville. Crappie, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and yellow perch are the draw. The deepest water is around 79 ft. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and an upper arm to work.

Palmer Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

12. Lake Spokane

Lake Spokane is a reservoir of about 4,650 acres. You will find it about 10 miles southeast of Spokane. It is the Spokane River behind Long Lake Dam. It holds trout.

Lake Spokane today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

Washington lakes by fish

A lake appears under a fish when it holds it, by the record or by the type of lake.

• Bass: Lake Chelan, Banks Lake, Riffe Lake and Lake Washington
• Walleye: Banks Lake, Moses Lake, Potholes Reservoir and Lake Roosevelt
• Trout: Lake Chelan, Riffe Lake, Lake Washington and Potholes Reservoir
• Crappie: Riffe Lake, Lake Washington, Moses Lake and Potholes Reservoir
• Catfish: Moses Lake, Lake Roosevelt, Kachess Lake and Swift Reservoir

When to go

• Spring: walleye are usually at their best. Prime range. Low light is best, on reefs and weed edges.
• Summer: walleye are usually fair. Warm surface. They go deep in the day; try evenings.
• Fall: walleye are usually at their best. Prime range. Low light is best, on reefs and weed edges.
• Winter: walleye are usually at their best. Good cool-water bite, best at dusk and after dark.

Before you go

A Washington fishing licence covers every lake here; the state fish and wildlife agency publishes the limits and any special rules lake by lake. Each lake page on LakeScope shows today's water temperature, the wind, the best bite times and a 3-D view of the bed, so check it the morning you go.