Dow Lake, Washington: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Dow Lake stands in Chelan County, Washington. This is mixed forest country. At 3 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. The closest town, Leavenworth, is 25 miles away. The big place round here is Everett, 53 miles distant. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it. Nothing here demands specialist tackle.

• Where to Fish on Dow Lake

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Species logged across Chelan County include cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, sockeye salmon, Chinook salmon and largemouth bass. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. Fish Dow Lake where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 57°F, the coldest about 23°F. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around mid April. Break-up near mid April, freeze-up near late November: that is the shape of an average year. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. At Dow Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. Toilets show in mapping about half a mile away. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. The nearest alternative is Lake Valhalla, 0.8 miles out. Signs at Dow Lake carry more weight than any list.