Dot Lakes, Washington: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  This water sits in Whatcom County, Washington. Everything around it is rolling bush. About 7 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. It is high ground by Washington standards. Keremeos lies 40 miles from the water. Chilliwack is the closest city, 68 miles away. Water in the same corner: Lease Lake (1.4 miles), Ptarmigan Lake roughly 2.1 miles, Dorchester Creek (3.3 miles), Freds Lake roughly 3.6 miles and Cougar Lake (3.7 miles). There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Dot Lakes

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Survey and observation records for Whatcom County include sockeye salmon, Coho salmon, white sturgeon, Chum salmon and pink salmon. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. At Dot Lakes light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year August sits at 53°F and December at 17°F. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from mid May. On average, mid May opens the water and early November closes it again. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. Time your trip to Dot Lakes by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. There is no recorded infrastructure here; expect to find your own way in. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. The nearest alternative is Lease Lake, 1.4 miles out. Nothing on Dot Lakes should be assumed from this page alone.