Horseshoe Lake near Leavenworth: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Horseshoe Lake lies in Chelan County, in Washington. It sits at 6,286 feet above sea level. At roughly 9 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. It sits higher than most water we list in Washington. Leavenworth lies 13 miles from the water. Cashmere follows at 21 miles, then Cle Elum at 21 miles. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Horseshoe Lake

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Survey and observation records for Chelan County include 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. At Horseshoe Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 21°F in December up to 55°F in August. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around early May. Average temperatures cross freezing around early May in spring and again near mid November in autumn. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. Plan any trip to Horseshoe Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. Nothing is mapped in the way of a ramp or car park within a short radius. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. The nearest alternative is Jack Lake, 0.2 miles out. The position on Horseshoe Lake is worth confirming on the day.