Lake Stuart, Washington: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  You will find Lake Stuart in Chelan County, Washington. The bank is 5,072 feet above sea level. With some 40 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. It is among the larger waters listed here for Chelan County. The closest town, Leavenworth, is 12 miles away. Cashmere lies 19 miles off, Cle Elum another 21 miles. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Lake Stuart

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Open biodiversity records for Chelan County list cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, sockeye salmon, Chinook salmon and largemouth bass. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. Work Lake Stuart in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  August runs about 55°F on average, December about 21°F. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. Once it clears, about early May, the fishing comes on quickly. Climate averages put the opening at about early May and the closing near mid November. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. The season on Lake Stuart rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. There is a campsite half a mile from the water. There are toilets half a mile off. Stuart Permit Area covers ground next to the water; its rules will apply on that side. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. Failing this one, try Horseshoe Lake, 1.4 miles away. Check the position on Lake Stuart before loading the car.