What is the deepest lake in Washington?

Of the lakes with a published depth, Lake Chelan is the deepest at about 1486 ft.

Deepest lakes in Washington: 10 lakes ranked by depth

Which lakes in Washington go deepest? These 10 have a published maximum depth, from Lake Chelan at about 1486 ft down.

Deepest first

#	Lake	Deepest	Size
1	Lake Chelan	about 1486 ft	33,300 acres
2	Lake Crescent	about 624 ft	5,130 acres
3	Ross Lake	about 540 ft	about 8,640 acres
4	Rock Lake	about 375 ft	2,190 acres
5	Riffe Lake	about 360 ft	11,800 acres
6	Lake Whatcom	about 350 ft	about 4,610 acres
7	Ozette Lake	about 331 ft	7,790 acres
8	Omak Lake	about 325 ft	3,240 acres
9	Lake Wenatchee	about 244 ft	2,480 acres
10	Lake Washington	about 214 ft	21,600 acres

1. Lake Chelan

At 33,300 acres of water, Lake Chelan is a big lake. Lake trout, kokanee salmon, trout and smallmouth bass are the draw. The deepest water is around 1486 ft. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and a steep ledge: good places to start.

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

2. Lake Crescent

Lake Crescent spreads over some 5,130 acres. The lake is near Port Angeles. Trout are the draw. The deepest water is around 624 ft. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and a sheltered cove worth a first look. Lake Crescent is famous for its strikingly clear, deep-blue water and hosts endemic trout found nowhere else.

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

3. Ross Lake

Ross Lake is a reservoir of about 8,640 acres. You will find it about 65 miles west of Bellingham. It is the Skagit River behind Ross Dam. The fish here are trout. It goes down to about 540 ft. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and a sheltered cove worth a first look. 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

4. Rock Lake

Rock Lake is a natural lake of 2,190 acres of water. It lies about 32 miles north of Spokane. Expect crappie, trout and bluegill. It goes down to about 375 ft.

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

5. Riffe Lake

Riffe Lake is a reservoir of 11,800 acres of water. It lies about 4.5 miles northeast of Morton. Mossyrock Dam holds it on the Cowlitz River. It holds trout, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass and bluegill. The deepest water is around 360 ft. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look. 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

6. Lake Whatcom

Lake Whatcom covers about 4,610 acres. You will find it next to Geneva. It holds kokanee salmon, trout, smallmouth bass and bluegill. It goes down to about 350 ft. 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

7. Ozette Lake

Ozette Lake covers 7,790 acres. The lake is near Forks. Like most lakes its size in Washington, it should hold largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill and catfish. The deepest water is around 331 ft. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look.

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

8. Omak Lake

At some 3,240 acres, Omak Lake is a good-sized lake. You will find it about 7.2 miles northwest of Okanogan. The usual Washington mix applies: largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill and catfish. It goes down to about 325 ft. Omak Lake is a natural saline lake with no outlet, managed by the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation.

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

9. Lake Wenatchee

Lake Wenatchee covers 2,480 acres. It lies within an easy drive of Sammamish (about 60 miles). The usual Washington mix applies: largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill and catfish. At about 244 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and an upper arm worth a first look.

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

10. Lake Washington

Lake Washington spreads over some 21,600 acres. The lake is next to Yarrow Point. It holds trout, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and yellow perch. At about 214 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. 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

The clearest of them

Lake Crescent is known for clear water. On a clear lake fish see a long way: lighter line, natural colours and longer casts make the difference.

Fishing deep water

In summer a deep lake splits into a warm top layer and a cold bottom; fish hold near the line between them, often 20 to 40 ft down. A depth finder, a slow troll or a jig dropped straight down finds them.