Buzzard Lake Fishing Guide, Okanogan County, Washington

• Overview

  Set in Okanogan County, Buzzard Lake is a Washington water. It lies 3,356 feet above sea level. About 13 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. The nearest place of any size is Okanogan, 7.2 miles away. The big place round here is Kelowna, 102 miles distant. No boundary runs near, so the county rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Buzzard Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Open biodiversity records for Okanogan County list rainbow trout, largemouth bass and sockeye salmon. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. On Buzzard Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 64°F; the cold one sits at 22°F. The season turns properly here, and fish follow it closely. Ice is part of the season here, ending near late March. On the long-run averages the water opens up around late March and starts locking again about late November. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. Time your trip to Buzzard Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. Buzzard Lake Wildlife Area offers parking about 130 yards from the water. Buzzard Lake Wildlife Area takes in this water; protected-area rules will apply. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. For a change of water, Darling Lake is 3.7 miles distant. The position on Buzzard Lake is worth confirming on the day.