Fishing at Lake Fontal, Snohomish County, Washington

• Overview

  Lake Fontal is one of the Snohomish County listings for Washington. The coast is 19 miles away. Roughly 49 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. The edge runs 1.0 miles or so, easy to work in an afternoon. On our Snohomish County list it sits near the top for size. Woods Creek is the closest place, 4.2 miles off. Sultan follows at 4.5 miles, then Monroe at 4.7 miles. Rules can differ a short way off, since the county line is near.

• Where to Fish on Lake Fontal

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Across Snohomish County, recorded fish include Chinook salmon, pink salmon, Coho salmon and largemouth bass. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. Fish Lake Fontal to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give August about 63°F and December about 38°F. Temperatures stay workable through the cold season. Heat pushes fish deep from June onwards, so start early. April and May are the settled weeks, with October close behind. Plan any trip to Lake Fontal around it. Wind direction matters more than wind strength.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. If the gate is shut, Lake Hannan at 0.7 miles is the nearest alternative. Ask locally about Lake Fontal if anything is unclear.