Day Lake Fishing near Big Lake, Washington

• Overview

  Washington holds Day Lake, in Skagit County. Elevation runs to 1,617 feet. With some 121 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. Around 2.8 miles of margin, front to back. On our Skagit County list it sits near the top for size. Big Lake is the closest town at 13 miles. Then Clear Lake, 13 miles, and Sedro-Woolley, 14 miles. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Day Lake

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Species logged across Skagit County include Coho salmon, Chum salmon, pink salmon and rainbow trout. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. At Day Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 34°F in December up to 60°F in August. In milder years the surface never sets. Hard water here is never dependable, so check for yourself before stepping out. June to September is hot work, so the first and last hours are what count. Anyone fishing Day Lake regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. There is no mapped parking or launch close by, which usually means walking in. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Failing this one, try Larch Lake, 4 miles away. For Day Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.