Fishing Burke Lake in Grant County, Washington

• Overview

  Within Grant County, Washington, you have Burke Lake. Height above sea level is 1,188 feet. The water covers some 69 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. The full circuit measures close to 2.5 miles on foot. Start from Quincy, 7.6 miles down the road. Royal City is 21 miles away, with Ephrata at 21 miles. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Burke Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Open biodiversity records for Grant County list yellow perch, largemouth bass, bluegill and black crappie. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. On Burke Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 72°F, with January the cold end at about 29°F. A long season, with weather mattering more than the month. In a normal year the cover is thin and short-lived. Late winter often fishes better here than midsummer does. Plan any trip to Burke Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Burke Lake South gives a made launch, half a mile off. A jetty or pier is mapped about half a mile from here. Mapping shows a campsite some half a mile from the water. There are toilets mapped about half a mile away. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Should this one be busy, Evergreen Reservoir is 0.5 miles off. For Burke Lake in particular, ask before you travel.