Jay Lake Fishing Guide, Snohomish County, Washington

• Overview

  Set in Snohomish County, Jay Lake is a Washington water. It lies 1,913 feet above sea level. At roughly 6 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. Gold Bar at 4.1 miles is the nearest place to stop. Everett is the closest city, 24 miles away. Close by you also have: Wallace Lake lies 0.9 miles on, Shaw Lake 1.2 miles away, Cecelia Lake lies 1.4 miles on, Lake Stickney 2.5 miles away and Rose Lake lies 3 miles on. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Jay Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Records held for Snohomish County cover Chinook salmon, pink salmon, Coho salmon, largemouth bass and pumpkinseed. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. Jay Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect August near 64°F and December near 38°F on the long-run figures. No part of the year shuts this water. The first and last hours carry the summer; the middle is slow. June to September is hot work, so the first and last hours are what count. At Jay Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. Mapping shows a campsite some 100 yards from the water. There are toilets 110 yards off. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. Wallace Lake at 0.9 miles is the sensible second choice. None of that is settled for Jay Lake in what we hold.