Deer Lake in Yakima County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Deer Lake stands in Yakima County, Washington. It stands 5,200 feet above sea level. It covers about 12 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. It is high ground by Washington standards. Tieton lies 31 miles from the water. Then Gleed, 38 miles, and Ahtanum, 38 miles. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Deer Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Yakima County records list rainbow trout, pumpkinseed, mountain whitefish, cutthroat trout and largemouth bass among the fish reported. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. At Deer Lake the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 56°F; the cold one sits at 25°F. Temperature moves within a narrow band, and so does the fishing. In milder years the edges alone go, and the middle never sets. November and March are the quiet, comfortable months to be out. Expect Deer Lake to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Failing this one, try Sand Lake, 0.6 miles away. Check the position at Deer Lake before loading the car.