Washington: High Lakes Fishing in The Evergreen State

Published: Monday, June 13th, 2022| Updated on: Monday, July 11th, 2022

Overview

Located near the North Pacific Ocean, Washington boasts 8,000 low land and alpine lakes, 3,000 miles of saltwater coastline, and 70,000 miles of river. With these many bodies of water, the Evergreen State is brimming with fantastic angling opportunities. Suppose you are looking for an excellent place to catch salmon, trout, and steelhead; know that Washington waters run strong with these species. Anglers worldwide visit this state because it offers an unmatched fishing experience with its high mountain, and glacier-fed lakes. The Evergreen State has 1,600 lakes above 2,500 feet and 950 lakes above 3,500 feet. These spectacular bodies of water are well-stocked with different varieties of trout, such as rainbow trout, golden trout, brook trout, and brown trout. But, that is not only what’s worth visiting in these high lakes. The scenic views, hiking and camping experience, and wildlife watching are also breathtaking and worth trying. Aside from that, Washington is also known for its salmon fishing. It is common knowledge for fishing enthusiasts that there is no better place to catch different varieties of salmon than Washington.

Washington Map of Places to Fish

About Fishing in Washington

Washington is the perfect state to show off your fishing skills. Fly fishing is one of the fishing methods you will enjoy here as fly fishing lakes, streams, and rivers inundate the state. One of the best fly fishing destinations you can visit is the Yakima River, the longest river in Washington. It is 214 miles, and it is open for fishing 365 days a year. You can do fly fishing all year round in this river. The Yakima River is jampacked with a big stonefly hatch that attracts more prominent fish species to the surface during summer. Come fall, red quill spinners come to hatch, while Skwala stoneflies are more abundant during late winter. Lastly, blue-winged olives start hatching during early spring.

Aside from the Yakima River, the Skagit River also offers an exciting fly fishing experience. This river boasts of the biggest salmon and steelhead fisheries in Washington. Moreover, it becomes a trout fishing hotspot come July until October.

Winter ice fishing is also notable in Washington state. Unlike in other parts of America, fishing doesn’t end here because winter starts. You can take advantage of ice-covered lakes to snag a good catch of trout, perch, and crappie. Patterson Lake in Okanogan county is one of the premier ice fishing destinations. It has around 160 acres with excellent shoreline access, allowing anglers to spread out and cover more grounds. When solid ice begins to cover the lake at the end of December, you may catch decent-sized yellow perch up to 12 inches big and rainbow trout, usually more than 14 inches. Besides those, you may also target kokanee salmon, a tasty treat during this season. But, if you want to get a rainbow trout of superb quality, you should go ice fishing in the Fourth of July Lake, a winter-only fishery located in Lincoln County. This lake holds rainbow trout that may exceed 20 inches.

You may also be surprised to know that Washington is the only state where you have a decent chance of catching all five species of Pacific salmon: chinook, coho, chum, pink, and sockeye salmon. The chinook salmon in Washington’s largest salmon. Locals often call it the “king” as these large salmon go in several runs and can be snagged anywhere in the state all year round. If you are lucky enough, you may catch a chinook salmon that weighs 40 pounds or more. The coho salmon are acrobatic fighters, commonly known as “silvers.” Their numbers are good during summer and fall. The third variety of salmon you may get a bite from in Washington is the chum salmon, which are toothy critters. They are aggressive fighters known to have destroyed many rods and reels.

On the other hand, pink salmon are smaller yet a tasty treat. You will usually see them in the Puget Sound Region. Last but not least, the sockeye salmon offers a fun fight as you reel them in. Baker Lake in Whatcom County is an excellent destination for sockeye salmon fishing.

If you go to Washington for recreational fishing, you should know that the state requires a catch record card for sturgeon, salmon, steelhead, halibut, and Dungeness crab. This card helps the government track the number of recreational catches, and you must return them to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Joining Washington fishing competitions is also a perfect way to complete your fishing escapade in the Evergreen State. Various associations hold fishing contests and derbies from April to May. There are lots of competitions that you can choose from, ranging from bass and trout fishing to kayak fishing.

Everything Else About Washington Fishing

Do you know that Indian Tribes in Washington have strong spiritual and cultural ties to salmon? Salmon fishing is embedded deep within their culture, and it has been their favorite activity for thousands of years. Even if the time is changing, their love for catching salmon has not changed. Tribes are now co-managing salmon and steelhead fisheries along with the government. The government of Washington has given them federally recognized fishing rights in usual and accustomed areas. These rights determined that tribes are entitled to half of the harvestable fish stocks that reside and pass through their usual and accustomed regions.

Aside from tribal fishing, the commercial fishing industry in Washington is also noteworthy. Fish and shellfish caught in its waters make their way to markets globally. Several clams are available in this state, including native littleneck, butter, manila, varnish, macoma, cockle, horse, geoduck, razor clams, and eastern softshell. Furthermore, Washington is the leading producer of clams, oysters, and geoduck in the country. It has an estimated annual shellfish harvest of $107 million.

Washington is truly a spectacular fishing destination. There are lots of things that you can only do in this state, such as high lake fishing, catching all five species of Pacific Salmon, witnessing tribal fishing, and having a taste of the most significant shellfish industry in the county. Indeed, this Evergreen State offers endless possibilities when it comes to fishing. If you want to experience this, book a guide with Captain Gregg Couch and Capps Fishing Adventures. He’ll take you salmon fishing in the mighty Columbia River.