Folsom Lake Fishing Guide, Whitman County, Washington

• Overview

  Folsom Lake lies in Whitman County, in Washington. The ground around here is rolling hill. The water covers some 76 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. The edge runs 2.4 miles or so, easy to work in an afternoon. On our Whitman County list it sits near the top for size. For a base, Cheney sits 23 miles out. Ritzville lies 24 miles off, Medical Lake another 26 miles. The county line runs close by, so rules can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Folsom Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Open biodiversity records for Whitman County list Chinook salmon, rainbow trout, Coho salmon and bluegill. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. At Folsom Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate records put July near 69°F and January near 29°F. Ice comes and goes from one year to the next. It should never be assumed safe, whatever the month says. March through May is the strongest run, with October and November a second stretch. Anyone fishing Folsom Lake regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Nothing is mapped in the way of a ramp or car park within a short radius. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Failing this one, try Crooked Knee Lake, 1.1 miles away. For Folsom Lake in particular, ask before you travel.