Fishing Jess Lake in Yakima County, Washington

• Overview

  Jess Lake lies within the bounds of Yakima County, Washington. What surrounds it is mixed forest. Surface area runs to about 4 acres — small enough to read in one session. The nearest town is Tieton, 30 miles away. Gleed is 37 miles and Ahtanum 38 miles. Within a short drive: Deerhead Lake lies 0.2 miles on, Pipe Lake within 0.4 miles, Penoyer Lake lies 0.8 miles on, Bill Lake within 0.9 miles and Beusch Lake lies 0.9 miles on. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Jess Lake

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. County-wide records name rainbow trout, pumpkinseed, mountain whitefish and cutthroat trout. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. On Jess Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put August at about 55°F and January near 25°F. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near late April. Expect the water usable from around late April until roughly late November. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. It sets the rhythm of the year at Jess Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. There is no mapped parking or launch close by, which usually means walking in. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Should this one be busy, Deerhead Lake is 0.2 miles off. For Jess Lake in particular, ask before you travel.