Fishing at Deadhead Lake, Kittitas County, Washington

• Overview

  Kittitas County in Washington is where Deadhead Lake sits. It stands 5,492 feet above sea level. The water measures roughly 9 acres, so nothing here is far from anything else. It is high ground by Washington standards. Nearest place of any size is Leavenworth, 24 miles away. For a city, Bellevue is 48 miles off. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Deadhead Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Open biodiversity records for Kittitas County list cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, Chinook salmon and sockeye salmon. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. At Deadhead Lake the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between December at about 22°F and August at about 56°F, the water has a wide range to work through. The season turns properly here, and fish follow it closely. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around late April. On the long-run averages the water opens up around late April and starts locking again about late November. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Deadhead Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. Mapping shows no built access close by; expect to walk in from wherever you can leave the car. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. Lake Vicente, 0.8 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Check the position on Deadhead Lake before loading the car.