Fishing Lower Jordan Lake in Skagit County, Washington

• Overview

  Lower Jordan Lake lies within the bounds of Skagit County, Washington. The bank is 4,039 feet above sea level. The water covers some 52 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. The edge runs 1.2 miles or so, easy to work in an afternoon. You are 18 miles from Darrington. Further out sit Arlington Heights (37 miles) and Granite Falls (38 miles). No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Lower Jordan Lake

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Fish documented in Skagit County include Coho salmon, Chum salmon, pink salmon, rainbow trout and Chinook salmon. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. On Lower Jordan Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is 27°F to 58°F. The year gives four workable seasons without severe ends. It should never be assumed safe, whatever the month says. Spring and autumn carry the year; summer squeezes it into the ends of the day. That is the shape of the year on Lower Jordan Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. We find no slipway, car park or made path within a short radius, so treat access as rough. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. For a change of water, Upper Jordan Lake is 1 mile distant. Confirm access to Lower Jordan Lake locally before you travel.