Fishing at Mule Lake, Chelan County, Washington

• Overview

  Mule Lake sits within Chelan County in Washington. Country round the bank runs to mixed forest. It covers about 5 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. It is high ground by Washington standards. The closest town, Darrington, is 23 miles distant. Gold Bar follows at 42 miles, then Granite Falls at 43 miles. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Mule Lake

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Across Chelan County, recorded fish include cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, sockeye salmon and Chinook salmon. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. Mule Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 56°F in August and bottom out at 24°F in December. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near mid April. Averages place the thaw at mid April and the freeze at late November. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. Mule Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. No car park, ramp or path is recorded within easy reach of the shore. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. If the gate is shut, Spire Lake at 0.6 miles is the nearest alternative. What applies at Mule Lake may have changed since it was mapped.