Fishing at Diamond Lake, Kittitas County, Washington

• Overview

  Look for Diamond Lake in Kittitas County, Washington. Elevation runs to 4,967 feet. The water measures roughly 5 acres, so nothing here is far from anything else. For a base, Cle Elum sits 20 miles out. It is 49 miles to Renton, the nearest city. Near neighbours: Cooper Lake after 1.4 miles, Lake Terence about 3.5 miles, Little Joe Lake after 3.9 miles, Opal Lake about 4 miles and Pete Lake after 4.2 miles. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Diamond Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Records held for Kittitas County cover cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, Chinook salmon and sockeye salmon. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. On Diamond Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give August about 59°F and January about 24°F. Hard water is a season in its own right here. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around early April. On average, early April opens the water and late November closes it again. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. Plan any trip to Diamond Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. Public data shows nothing built here, so treat the whole approach as informal. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. Cooper Lake sits 1.4 miles off and takes the overflow. Confirm access to Diamond Lake locally before you travel.