Lake McMurray in Skagit County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  In Washington, Lake McMurray falls inside Skagit County. The water sits 240 feet up. Around 155 acres of surface means several distinct areas to work. The bank runs about 2.1 miles all the way round, so one visit can cover most of it. Size puts it in the front rank of our Skagit County list. Nearest place of any size is Big Lake, 6 miles away. The nearest city of size is Everett, 24 miles away. A county boundary sits nearby, which can matter for local access rules.

• Where to Fish on Lake McMurray

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Public occurrence data for Skagit County names Coho salmon, Chum salmon, pink salmon and rainbow trout. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. Take Lake McMurray a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 38°F in January and 62°F in August. The calendar is generous: something works in nearly every month. It should never be assumed safe, whatever the month says. Late winter often fishes better here than midsummer does. On Lake McMurray that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. You can launch: the ramp is half a mile away. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Summer Lake, 2.9 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. The position on Lake McMurray is worth confirming on the day.