Fishing at Long John Lake, Yakima County, Washington

• Overview

  Long John Lake stands in Yakima County, Washington. It sits in pine and birch. Small at around 4 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. 29 miles away sits Tieton, the nearest town. Kent sits 62 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. No boundary runs near, so the county rules hold throughout. Trees shelter part of the bank when the wind gets up.

• Where to Fish on Long John Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Fish documented in Yakima County include rainbow trout, pumpkinseed, mountain whitefish, cutthroat trout and largemouth bass. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. The shape of Long John Lake decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, August reads 55°F and January reads 25°F. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. Ice is part of the season here, ending near late April. Averages suggest open water from about late April through to roughly late November. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. The season on Long John Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. There is no recorded infrastructure here; expect to find your own way in. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Failing this one, try Pillar Lake, 0.3 miles away. Confirm access to Long John Lake locally before you travel.