Chaval Lake Fishing in Skagit County, Washington

• Overview

  In Washington, Chaval Lake falls inside Skagit County. What surrounds it is lake country bush. This is a pocket water of some 8 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. Start from Darrington, 15 miles down the road. Granite Falls follows at 35 miles, then Arlington Heights at 36 miles. What else is close: Crater Lake at 0.9 miles, Hyas Lake roughly 1.8 miles, Cliff Lake at 1.9 miles, Lake Kawkawak roughly 1.9 miles and Boulder Lake at 2.1 miles. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Chaval Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Fish documented in Skagit County include Coho salmon, Chum salmon, pink salmon and rainbow trout. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. On Chaval Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, August reads 55°F and December reads 23°F. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around late April. Open water usually runs from late April until about late November. Look to early summer and the first cool weeks of autumn. Chaval Lake runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. The map shows no ramp or car park nearby, so this is a walk-in water. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. For a change of water, Crater Lake is 0.9 miles distant. Signs at Chaval Lake carry more weight than any list.