Lost Lake in Benton County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Set in Benton County, Washington, this is Lost Lake. What surrounds it is open dry country. Small at around 4 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. The closest town, West Richland, is 2.4 miles distant. Further out sit Benton City (4.7 miles) and Richland (5.2 miles). Nearby alternatives: Ben Blair Pond 15 miles away, Burbank Slough roughly 21 miles, Curlew Pond 22 miles away, Clark Pond roughly 23 miles and Quarry Pond 23 miles away. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Lost Lake

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Across Benton County, recorded fish include smallmouth bass, largemouth bass and Chinook salmon. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. Lost Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 75°F in July and bottom out at 33°F in January. The year turns gently, without extremes at either end. In milder years the edges alone go, and the middle never sets. November and March are the quiet, comfortable months to be out. Plan any trip to Lost Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. The nearest mapped parking is half a mile away, so the last stretch is on foot. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. The nearest alternative is Ben Blair Pond, 15 miles out. None of that is settled for Lost Lake in what we hold.