Fishing North Lake in Snohomish County, Washington

• Overview

  In Washington, North Lake belongs to Snohomish County. Salt water lies 32 miles off. The water covers some 33 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. Size puts it in the front rank of our Snohomish County list. For supplies, Darrington is 9.1 miles out. Gold Bar follows at 21 miles, then Granite Falls at 21 miles. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on North Lake

  No chart reached our records; the first cast is your sounding. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Reported across Snohomish County: Chinook salmon, pink salmon and Coho salmon. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. Fish North Lake to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect August near 58°F and December near 29°F on the long-run figures. Fishing continues through most of the calendar, with quiet spells rather than closures. It is not guaranteed from one year to the next. The cooler months are the comfortable ones to fish here. That shapes the year on North Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. No car park, ramp or path is recorded within easy reach of the shore. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Independence Lake sits 1.1 miles off and takes the overflow. Confirm before you fish North Lake.