Fern Lake, Washington: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Fern Lake is one of the Chelan County waters in Washington. The country round it is lake country bush from end to end. At 17 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. By elevation it is in the upper part of our Washington listings. The nearest place of any size is Granite Falls, 24 miles away. Beyond it, Manson at 26 miles and Leavenworth at 33 miles. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Fern Lake

  No depth figure appears in our records, so the bank has to tell you. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. County-wide records name cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, sockeye salmon, Chinook salmon and largemouth bass. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. Fern Lake responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 21°F in December and 56°F in August. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about late April. From about late April to around mid November, expect open water on the long-run figures. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. Time your trip to Fern Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. There is no mapped parking or launch close by, which usually means walking in. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Choral Lake sits 1 mile off and takes the overflow. Check the position on Fern Lake before loading the car.