Fishing at McAlester Lake, Okanogan County, Washington

• Overview

  McAlester Lake lies in Okanogan County, Washington. The bank is 5,492 feet above sea level. It covers about 13 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. It is high ground by Washington standards. Granite Falls at 43 miles is the nearest place to stop. Everett is the closest city, 77 miles away. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on McAlester Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Okanogan County records list rainbow trout, largemouth bass and sockeye salmon among the fish reported. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. Work McAlester Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, August reads 55°F and December reads 19°F. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around early May. In an average year the thaw lands around early May and the freeze near mid November. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. McAlester Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. There is a campsite 170 yards from the water. Facilities include toilets around half a mile from here. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Should this one be busy, Twisp Lake is 1.6 miles off. For McAlester Lake in particular, ask before you travel.