Blue Lake in Okanogan County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Blue Lake lies within the bounds of Okanogan County, Washington. Height above sea level is 6,270 feet. About 16 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. It sits higher than most water we list in Washington. The closest town, Darrington, is 46 miles away. Granite Falls is 47 miles and Manson 49 miles. No boundary runs near, so the county rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Blue Lake

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Okanogan County records list rainbow trout, largemouth bass, sockeye salmon, yellow perch and smallmouth bass among the fish reported. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. Blue Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 18°F in December up to 54°F in August. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around early May. Open water usually runs from early May until about mid November. Spring is short and heavy here; autumn is longer and steadier. It holds true on Blue Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. You will be walking about 0.9 miles from the nearest car park. Mapping records toilets within 0.9 miles. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. If the gate is shut, Cutthroat Lake at 2.4 miles is the nearest alternative. Where Blue Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.