Ansaldo Lake, Washington: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Ansaldo Lake is set in Stevens County, Washington. It stands 3,130 feet above sea level. This is a pocket water of some 15 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. Supplies mean a trip to Rossland, 14 miles off. Spokane is the closest city, 88 miles away. Others worth noting: Pepoon Lake near enough 1.2 miles, Bowen Lake 4.2 miles, Elbow Lake near enough 4.7 miles, Silver Crown Lake 6.6 miles and O'Toole Lake near enough 6.9 miles. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Ansaldo Lake

  No chart reached our records; the first cast is your sounding. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Across Stevens County, recorded fish include brook trout, rainbow trout and brown trout. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. At Ansaldo Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  August is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 65°F, while January sits near 25°F. A lid forms in a hard winter only. In a normal year the cover is thin and short-lived. The cooler months are the comfortable ones to fish here. Ansaldo Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. A jetty or pier is mapped about 100 yards from here. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Failing this one, try Pepoon Lake, 1.2 miles away. Rules at Ansaldo Lake are worth checking on the day.