Colchuck Lake Fishing Guide, Chelan County, Washington

• Overview

  Colchuck Lake is listed under Chelan County, Washington. It sits at 5,554 feet above sea level. It measures about 87 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. Roughly 1.3 miles of bank means you can walk to a fresh area when one goes quiet. On our Chelan County list it sits near the top for size. The town to know is Leavenworth, 11 miles out. Cashmere is 17 miles and Cle Elum 21 miles. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Colchuck Lake

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. Held water runs deepest at the wall and shallows back to the inflow. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Records held for Chelan County cover cutthroat trout, rainbow trout and sockeye salmon. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. Colchuck Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put August at about 55°F and December near 21°F. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around early May. Averages suggest open water from about early May through to roughly mid November. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. Anyone fishing Colchuck Lake regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. A camping area sits within half a mile of here. Public toilets are recorded roughly half a mile off. This sits inside Colchuck Permit Area, so read the reserve notices first. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. For a change of water, Tranquil Lake is 1.1 miles distant. Signs at Colchuck Lake carry more weight than any list.