Eightmile Lake near Leavenworth: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Set in Chelan County, Washington, this is Eightmile Lake. The country here is pine and birch. The water covers some 64 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. The whole outline is near 1.2 miles, and most of it is walkable. Few waters listed in Chelan County are bigger. Leavenworth sits 11 miles from here and is the nearest stop. Bellevue sits 63 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Eightmile Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Survey and observation records for Chelan County include cutthroat trout, rainbow trout and sockeye salmon. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. At Eightmile Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 54°F for August and 21°F for December. Winter shuts the surface down for months. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around early May. Ice clears near early May and comes back about mid November in a typical year. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. On Eightmile Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. No built facilities appear in mapping around this water. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Failing this one, try Little Eightmile Lake, 0.7 miles away. Check the position on Eightmile Lake before loading the car.