McClain Lake in Douglas County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  You will find McClain Lake in Douglas County, Washington. This is dry rangeland ground. About 8 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. Start from Bridgeport, 3 miles down the road. Spokane is the closest city, 109 miles away. Within a short drive: Dezellem Lake 1.1 miles, Alexander Lake lies 1.7 miles on, Rudd Lake 3.8 miles, Beard Lake lies 5.2 miles on and Lake Pateros 6.9 miles. This one sits near enough to a boundary to be worth checking.

• Where to Fish on McClain Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Records held for Douglas County cover largemouth bass, sockeye salmon and black crappie. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. The near bank of McClain Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 70°F; by January the average is down near 24°F. Winter shuts things down for a spell, then spring reopens them fast. Break-up comes around mid March, and the run that follows is short and strong. Ice usually gives way near mid March, and forms again about early December. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. It sets the rhythm of the year at McClain Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. There is no mapped parking or launch nearby, which keeps numbers down. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Dezellem Lake, 1.1 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. For McClain Lake in particular, ask before you travel.