Brader Lake, Washington: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Set in Skamania County, Washington, this is Brader Lake. It lies 4,508 feet above sea level. It covers about 3 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. Some 19 miles away sits Carson, the nearest settlement. Stevenson is 21 miles and Cascade Locks 23 miles. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Brader Lake

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Fish documented in Skamania County include Chinook salmon, Coho salmon and rainbow trout. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. Brader Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 28°F in January and 56°F in August. A lid forms in a hard winter only. It is not guaranteed from one year to the next. The cooler months are the comfortable ones to fish here. Expect Brader Lake to follow that timing. Wind on the bank for a day or two lifts the fishing there.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. You can camp about half a mile away, going by the mapping. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Should this one be busy, Eunice Lake is 0.3 miles off. Confirm access to Brader Lake locally before you travel.