Fishing at Inspiration Lake, Chelan County, Washington

• Overview

  Inspiration Lake lies in Chelan County, in Washington. Land around it is rolling bush. At 18 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. Compared with other Washington water on our list, it sits high. You are 10 miles from Leavenworth. Bellevue is the closest city, 66 miles away. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Inspiration Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Species logged across Chelan County include cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, sockeye salmon and Chinook salmon. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. Inspiration Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is 21°F to 55°F. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near early May. Break-up near early May, freeze-up near mid November: that is the shape of an average year. Spring is short and heavy here; autumn is longer and steadier. That is the shape of the year on Inspiration Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. Mapping shows a campsite some 160 yards from the water. Facilities run to toilets half a mile from the water. This sits inside Core Enchantments Permit Area, so read the reserve notices first. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. The nearest alternative is Perfection Lake, 0.2 miles out. Rules at Inspiration Lake are worth checking on the day.