Holmstedt Lake in Skamania County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Look for Holmstedt Lake in Skamania County, Washington. It lies 5,059 feet above sea level. Surface area runs to about 5 acres — small enough to read in one session. Nearest town is Morton, 17 miles off. Then Amboy, 33 miles, and Yacolt, 35 miles. Round about: 0.4 miles out stands Shovel Lake, Panhandle Lake 0.5 miles off, 0.6 miles out stands Boot Lake, Obscurity Lake 1 mile off and 1.1 miles out stands Grizzly Lake. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Holmstedt Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. County-wide records name Chinook salmon, Coho salmon, rainbow trout and cutthroat trout. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. At Holmstedt Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put August at about 59°F and January near 29°F. Conditions shift steadily rather than sharply. It is not guaranteed even in a cold spell, so check yourself. March through May is the strongest run, with October and November a second stretch. On Holmstedt Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. You can camp half a mile off, which suits an early start. There are toilets half a mile off. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. Shovel Lake sits 0.4 miles off and takes the overflow. The position on Holmstedt Lake is worth confirming on the day.