Rainbow Lake Fishing Guide, Chelan County, Washington

• Overview

  The Chelan County entry here is Rainbow Lake, in Washington. The ground round it is pine and birch. Surface area runs to about 15 acres — small enough to read in one session. It sits higher than most water we list in Washington. Start from Darrington, 41 miles down the road. Everett sits 73 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Rainbow Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Reported across Chelan County: cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, sockeye salmon and Chinook salmon. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. On Rainbow Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect August to average close to 60°F, with December the cold end at about 22°F. Winter shuts things down for a spell, then spring reopens them fast. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near mid April. Climate figures give an open season running mid April to late November. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. Plan around that when you fish Rainbow Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. A campsite lies half a mile away for anyone staying over. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. If the gate is shut, Kettling Lake at 3.2 miles is the nearest alternative. For Rainbow Lake in particular, ask before you travel.