Cranberry Lake Fishing near Ault Field, Washington

• Overview

  Cranberry Lake belongs to Island County, Washington. Elevation runs to 10 feet. Around 129 acres of surface means several distinct areas to work. Around 2.3 miles of margin, front to back. On our Island County list it sits near the top for size. The closest town, Ault Field, is 4 miles distant. Victoria sits 32 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. The line between counties passes nearby, which can change who manages the water.

• Where to Fish on Cranberry Lake

  Depth remains unrecorded, so treat the first session as a survey. This is tidal water: the state of the tide decides where fish sit, so plan the session around it. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Fish documented in Island County include Coho salmon, rainbow trout and Chinook salmon. Treat Cranberry Lake as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 61°F at the top of summer and 40°F at the bottom of winter. Most months fish reasonably, given the right weather. It is not guaranteed even in a cold spell, so check yourself. November and March are the quiet, comfortable months to be out. Cranberry Lake runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. A launch point is recorded some half a mile off. There is recorded parking some half a mile off. There is a mapped landing stage half a mile away. A rest area sits about half a mile from the water. Mapping records toilets within half a mile. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Pass Lake sits 2.1 miles off and takes the overflow.