Michael Lake Fishing near Cle Elum, Washington

• Overview

  Look for Michael Lake in the Kittitas County part of Washington. It sits in mixed forest. Surface area runs to about 17 acres — small enough to read in one session. The nearest place of any size is Cle Elum, 20 miles away. Renton is the closest city, 53 miles away. Close neighbours run: Lake Terence within 1.1 miles, Opal Lake lies 1.1 miles on, Moonshine Lake within 1.9 miles, Squitch Lake lies 4.2 miles on and Diamond Lake within 4.3 miles. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Michael Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Open biodiversity records for Kittitas County list cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, Chinook salmon and sockeye salmon. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. Fish Michael Lake where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 23°F and August at about 58°F, the water has a wide range to work through. Winter shuts things down for a spell, then spring reopens them fast. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around mid April. Average temperatures cross freezing around mid April in spring and again near late November in autumn. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. Time your trip to Michael Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. A campsite is mapped about 160 yards away, which makes an early start easier. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. For a change of water, Lake Terence is 1.1 miles distant. Check the position on Michael Lake before loading the car.