Fishing at Bennett Lake, Douglas County, Washington

• Overview

  The Douglas County entry here is Bennett Lake, in Washington. It lies 1,837 feet above sea level. It runs to roughly 48 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. 20 miles away sits Bridgeport, the nearest town. After that come Chelan at 21 miles and Waterville at 22 miles. Near neighbours include: Grimes Lake at 1.2 miles, Jameson Lake 2.3 miles, Perk Lake at 7.1 miles, Haynes Lake 7.8 miles and Stallard Lake at 8.3 miles. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Bennett Lake

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Open biodiversity records for Douglas County list largemouth bass, sockeye salmon and black crappie. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. Anyone new to Bennett Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 71°F; the cold one sits at 24°F. Hard water is a season in its own right here. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around early March. The water is typically free of ice between early March and early December. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. That shapes the year on Bennett Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. A made slipway is half a mile from here, which settles the boat question. Recorded parking is half a mile off, far enough to travel light. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. The nearest alternative is Grimes Lake, 1.2 miles out. Ask locally about Bennett Lake if anything is unclear.