Crocker Lake Fishing near Port Hadlock-Irondale, Washington

• Overview

  Look for Crocker Lake in the Jefferson County part of Washington. Salt water lies 4 miles off. With some 75 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. The edge runs 1.2 miles or so, easy to work in an afternoon. It is among the larger waters listed here for Jefferson County. The nearest town is Port Hadlock-Irondale, 8 miles away. Port Ludlow is 9.2 miles away, with Lofall at 13 miles. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Crocker Lake

  Depth remains unrecorded, so treat the first session as a survey. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Fish documented in Jefferson County include Coho salmon, rainbow trout and cutthroat trout. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. On Crocker Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect August to average close to 62°F, with December the cold end at about 39°F. The calendar is generous: something works in nearly every month. It should never be assumed safe, whatever the month says. June to September is hot work, so the first and last hours are what count. Time your trip to Crocker Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. A slipway half a mile out gives trailer access. You can park half a mile away and walk in from there. Facilities run to toilets half a mile from the water. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Failing this one, try Peterson Lake, 1.4 miles away. Check the current arrangement for Crocker Lake.