Fishing Nelson Lake in Stevens County, Washington

• Overview

  Nelson Lake is set in Stevens County, Washington. It sits at 2,766 feet above sea level. At 17 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. Shoreline comes to about 1.6 miles, small enough to learn in a day. Start from Chewelah, 9.7 miles down the road. Deer Park is 16 miles and Newport 24 miles. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Nelson Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Records held for Stevens County cover brook trout, rainbow trout and brown trout. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. On Nelson Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 62°F in August and bottom out at 24°F in January. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. Ice is part of the season here, ending near late March. The lid tends to go about late March and return around late November. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. Nelson Lake runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Nothing is listed nearby for parking or launching a boat. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. The nearest alternative is Benson Lake, 0.9 miles out. Confirm before you fish Nelson Lake.