Bonaparte Lake near Republic: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Bonaparte Lake belongs to Okanogan County, Washington. It lies 3,560 feet above sea level. With some 151 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. A shoreline of some 2.9 miles keeps the choices simple. It is among the larger waters listed here for Okanogan County. Republic is the closest place, 18 miles off. It is 77 miles to Kelowna, the nearest city. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Bonaparte Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Levels move with the draw rather than the rain on water like this. Records held for Okanogan County cover rainbow trout, largemouth bass and sockeye salmon. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. The near bank of Bonaparte Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 60°F in August and bottoms out near 20°F in December. Winter shuts things down for a spell, then spring reopens them fast. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from early April. The season between ice runs from about early April to late November. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. Time your trip to Bonaparte Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. A slipway is marked about half a mile from here. Parking is not close: half a mile from the bank, and no nearer option is mapped. You can camp about half a mile away, going by the mapping. 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. For a change of water, Lost Lake is 3.4 miles distant. Rules at Bonaparte Lake are worth checking on the day.