Patterson Lake, Washington: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Patterson Lake falls in Okanogan County, part of Washington. It lies 2,713 feet above sea level. At 18 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. Shoreline comes to about 1.0 miles, small enough to learn in a day. Okanogan is the closest place, 5.7 miles off. Omak follows at 7.5 miles, then Brewster at 20 miles. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Patterson Lake

  Depth is not on record here, which means reading the ground instead. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Survey and observation records for Okanogan County include rainbow trout, largemouth bass, sockeye salmon and yellow perch. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. On Patterson Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 69°F in July and bottom out at 24°F in January. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough mid March. In an average year the thaw lands around mid March and the freeze near early December. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. Patterson Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. 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. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Should this one be busy, Little Lake is 1.2 miles off. Check the current arrangement for Patterson Lake.