Lake Pateros Fishing Guide, Chelan County, Washington

• Overview

  Set in Chelan County, Washington, this is Lake Pateros. The water sits 758 feet up. It covers about 13.1 sq miles, which means weather matters as much as tactics. On our Chelan County list it sits near the top for size. The town to know is Bridgeport, 9.9 miles out. The nearest city of size is Everett, 108 miles away. Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on Lake Pateros

  Depth figures are not published for this one. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. County-wide records name cutthroat trout, rainbow trout and sockeye salmon. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. At Lake Pateros light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 72°F and January reads 26°F. Most months fish reasonably, given the right weather. It should never be assumed safe, whatever the month says. April and May are the settled weeks, with October close behind. At Lake Pateros the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. Boat access is recorded roughly 0.9 miles away. Parking is mapped about half a mile from the bank. Facilities run to toilets half a mile from the water. 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. Beard Lake sits 2.4 miles off and takes the overflow. Treat access at Lake Pateros as something to verify.