Mud Lake in Skagit County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  The Skagit County entry here is Mud Lake, in Washington. It sits 11 miles in from the sea. The water measures roughly 15 acres, so nothing here is far from anything else. Clear Lake at 0.2 miles is the nearest place to stop. After that come Sedro-Woolley at 2.9 miles and Big Lake at 4.1 miles. Also within reach: Clear Lake within 0.6 miles, Beaver Lake 1.2 miles, Barney Lake within 2.5 miles, Judy Reservoir 2.6 miles and Bottomless Lake within 4.8 miles. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Mud Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Records held for Skagit County cover Coho salmon, Chum salmon and pink salmon. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. On Mud Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 63°F in August and bottoms out near 38°F in January. The awkward stretch is midsummer, not midwinter. The cooler months are the comfortable ones to be out. June to September is hot work, so the first and last hours are what count. On Mud Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. The slipway at Clear Lake Boat Launch is half a mile away. Parking within half a mile means no long carry with tackle. Mapping shows a jetty some half a mile off. The water borders Mud Lake Conservation Area, so reserve rules are likely to apply. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. Clear Lake sits 0.6 miles off and takes the overflow. Treat Mud Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.