Johnson Lake Fishing near Colfax, Washington

• Overview

  Johnson Lake is one of the Whitman County waters in Washington. Height above sea level is 1,621 feet. The water measures roughly 11 acres, so nothing here is far from anything else. The town to know is Colfax, 24 miles out. After that come Ritzville at 27 miles and Pullman at 36 miles. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Johnson Lake

  We hold no depth figure for this one. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Across Whitman County, recorded fish include Chinook salmon, rainbow trout, Coho salmon, bluegill and largemouth bass. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. Read Johnson Lake for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 31°F in January to roughly 71°F in July. The year turns gently, without extremes at either end. In a normal year the cover is thin and short-lived. Late winter often fishes better here than midsummer does. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Johnson Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. Nothing formal is recorded here: no ramp, no car park, no marked path. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Should this one be busy, Hergert Lake is 1.4 miles off. Ask locally about Johnson Lake if anything is unclear.