O'Brien Lake Fishing in Lincoln County, Washington

• Overview

  You will find O'Brien Lake in Lincoln County, Washington. Open valley runs right down to the water. Small at around 10 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. The nearest town is Grand Coulee, 22 miles away. Spokane is the closest city, 62 miles away. Also on the doorstep: Wagner Lake at 2.3 miles, H Lake within 2.4 miles, Hole in the Wall Lake at 3.4 miles, Herb Lake within 3.4 miles and Nicholson Lake at 3.9 miles. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on O'Brien 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. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Reported across Lincoln County: yellow perch, largemouth bass and walleye. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. On O'Brien Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 69°F, the coldest about 26°F. Most months fish reasonably, given the right weather. It is not guaranteed from one year to the next. Late winter often fishes better here than midsummer does. O'Brien Lake fishes to that pattern most years. Rain lifts the level and moves fish about.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. Public mapping marks it as seasonal water rather than permanent. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. For a change of water, Wagner Lake is 2.3 miles distant. What applies at O'Brien Lake may have changed since it was mapped.