FreeFishFishing in Washington: lake depth maps and where to start
Desert reservoirs, mountain lakes and big rivers. How to use Washington lake depth maps, notable waters, and where to find the official rules.
Washington's freshwater fishing is incredibly varied: warm-water reservoirs in the dry east, alpine lakes in the Cascades, large lakes around Seattle, and big river systems including the Columbia and Snake. Lake depth surveys published by the Washington Department of Ecology are available for many lakes, and FreeFish shows them on the map. Fishing regulations are set by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
What you can fish for
Rainbow trout are stocked widely, and many lakes hold kokanee. Eastern Washington reservoirs have walleye, smallmouth and largemouth bass, yellow perch, crappie and bluegill. Rivers support salmon and steelhead, with seasons set carefully to protect wild runs.
Waters to know
- Banks Lake: a large eastern Washington reservoir known for walleye, bass and perch.
- Potholes Reservoir: a maze of sand dunes and channels with walleye, bass, perch and crappie.
- Lake Roosevelt: the long reservoir behind Grand Coulee Dam, with walleye, rainbow trout and kokanee.
- Lake Washington: a large lake in Seattle with smallmouth bass and yellow perch.
Using Washington depth maps
Eastern reservoirs often have rocky points, submerged islands and old river channels, all of which show up on depth maps and hold walleye and smallmouth bass. In summer, look for structure at the depth of the thermocline and fish low-light periods shallow. On deep western lakes, steep drop-offs mean fish can move vertically a long way in a short distance, so watch your electronics.
Reservoir levels can change significantly with irrigation and power demands, which changes the shoreline and what cover is underwater.
Through the seasons
Spring brings the opening of many lowland lakes for trout, which are stocked heavily. Summer is the best time for walleye and smallmouth bass in eastern reservoirs, and for kokanee in deeper lakes. Fall brings salmon runs in many rivers, under carefully managed seasons. In winter, some eastern Washington lakes freeze for ice fishing, while western lakes generally stay open.
Before you go
Washington rules can vary by water and change during the season, especially for salmon and steelhead, and emergency rule changes are common. Always check the current regulations from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, linked below, before you fish.
Official rules
Seasons, limits and license requirements change. The official source is the state agency: Washington fishing regulations and licenses.