Fishing Deer Lake in King County, Washington

• Overview

  Deer Lake is set in King County, Washington. The water sits 3,579 feet up. With some 40 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. Nearest town is Tanner, 17 miles off. The nearest city of size is Bellevue, 37 miles away. Water in the same corner: Bear Lake 0.3 miles away, Snoqualmie Lake after 0.6 miles, Snoqualmie Lake Potholes 0.8 miles away, Lake Pugsley after 1.1 miles and Little Myrtle Lake 1.3 miles away. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Deer Lake

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. County-wide records name Chum salmon, Coho salmon, Chinook salmon, sockeye salmon and yellow perch. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. On Deer Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 26°F in December and 57°F in August. Whether it freezes depends on the year. In a normal year the cover is thin and short-lived. March through May is the strongest run, with October and November a second stretch. On Deer Lake that shapes the whole year. The first frost of the year slows things for a few days.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. A campsite is mapped about half a mile away, which makes an early start easier. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. Failing this one, try Bear Lake, 0.3 miles away. The position on Deer Lake is worth confirming on the day.