North Lake Fishing near Bethel, Washington

• Overview

  Out in Kitsap County, Washington, sits North Lake. It sits in pine and hardwood country. About 9 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. The closest town, Bethel, is 2.7 miles distant. East Port Orchard follows at 3.5 miles, then Port Orchard at 3.9 miles. The boundary is close enough to be worth checking before you fish.

• Where to Fish on North Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Fish documented in Kitsap County include Chum salmon, Coho salmon, cutthroat trout and largemouth bass. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. On North Lake the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between December at about 39°F and August at about 63°F, the water has a wide range to work through. The year never really closes; it just gets uncomfortable in summer. Heat pushes fish deep from June onwards, so start early. February into May fishes hardest as the water warms. That is the shape of the year on North Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. You can leave the car about half a mile from the water. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. Failing this one, try Square Lake, 1.1 miles away. For North Lake in particular, ask before you travel.