Browns Lake Fishing in Pend Oreille County, Washington

• Overview

  Browns Lake lies within the bounds of Pend Oreille County, Washington. The surface lies 3,146 feet up. Small at around 24 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. The closest town, Colville, is 23 miles away. For a city, Spokane is 69 miles off. Close neighbours run: 1.4 miles away is Nile Lake, Frater Lake 2 miles away, 2.7 miles away is Lake Leo, Lake Heritage 4.2 miles away and 4.3 miles away is Anderson Lake. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Browns Lake

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Fish documented in Pend Oreille County include rainbow trout, tench, cutthroat trout, pumpkinseed and brook trout. The county list is broader than any single water. On Browns Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect August to average close to 61°F, with January the cold end at about 23°F. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around early April. Average temperatures cross freezing around early April in spring and again near late November in autumn. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. On Browns Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. 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. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. For a change of water, Nile Lake is 1.4 miles distant. Confirm before you fish Browns Lake.