Rainbow Lake in Okanogan County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  In Washington, Rainbow Lake falls inside Okanogan County. Height above sea level is 2,621 feet. This is a pocket water of some 13 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. Supplies mean a trip to Oroville, 7 miles off. For a city, Kelowna is 70 miles off. Others close at hand: Wannacut Lake at about 1.7 miles, Johnny Johnson Lake about 2.3 miles, Pentland Lake at about 2.4 miles, Rock Lake about 2.8 miles and Irwins Pond at about 2.9 miles. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Rainbow Lake

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. 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 and sockeye salmon. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. Rainbow Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  August runs about 66°F on average, January about 23°F. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. Winter locks it down, and mid March brings it back. Open water usually runs from mid March until about early December. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. Rainbow Lake runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. There is no mapped parking or launch close by, which usually means walking in. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. The nearest alternative is Wannacut Lake, 1.7 miles out. Ask locally about Rainbow Lake if anything is unclear.