Great Western Lake Fishing in Okanogan County, Washington

• Overview

  Great Western Lake is set in Okanogan County, Washington. It stands 2,329 feet above sea level. Small at around 18 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. Coulee Dam sits 18 miles from the bank. It is 84 miles to Spokane, the nearest city. Round about: Grant Lake just 2.4 miles, Johnson Lake the better part of 5 miles, Nespelem River just 6.3 miles, Owhi Lake the better part of 6.7 miles and Little Owhi Lake just 7.2 miles. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Great Western Lake

  Depth remains unrecorded, so treat the first session as a survey. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Reported across Okanogan County: rainbow trout, largemouth bass, sockeye salmon, yellow perch and smallmouth bass. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. On Great Western Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year August sits at 66°F and January at 25°F. Hard water is a season in its own right here. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near mid March. On average, mid March opens the water and early December closes it again. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. It holds true on Great Western Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. The map shows no ramp or car park nearby, so this is a walk-in water. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. If the gate is shut, Grant Lake at 2.4 miles is the nearest alternative. Where Great Western Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.