Blue Lake Fishing near Oroville, Washington

• Overview

  In Washington, Blue Lake falls inside Okanogan County. It sits at 1,785 feet above sea level. Surface area is around 128 acres, which gives you real water without needing a boat. A shoreline of some 2.0 miles keeps the choices simple. Few waters listed in Okanogan County are bigger. The nearest town is Oroville, 3.4 miles away. After that come Osoyoos at 8.9 miles and Tonasket at 14 miles. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Blue Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Species logged across Okanogan County include rainbow trout, largemouth bass, sockeye salmon, yellow perch and smallmouth bass. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. On Blue Lake the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 69°F; the cold one sits at 26°F. In milder years the surface never sets. In milder years the edges alone go, and the middle never sets. Autumn steadies things again once the heat lets go. That shapes the year on Blue Lake. Weed growth peaks in late summer and changes where you can fish.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. A ramp is mapped within half a mile. Parking sits half a mile out, which makes for a walk with tackle. There are toilets mapped about half a mile away. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. Pentland Lake at 1.5 miles is the sensible second choice. Confirm access to Blue Lake locally before you travel.