Rampart Lakes, Washington: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  In Washington, Rampart Lakes falls inside Kittitas County. The setting is rolling hill. Surface area runs to about 7 acres — small enough to read in one session. Some 19 miles away sits Tanner, the nearest settlement. Riverbend follows at 19 miles, then Wilderness Rim at 20 miles. It sits near the edge of the county, so check which rules apply.

• Where to Fish on Rampart Lakes

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Kittitas County records list cutthroat trout, rainbow trout and Chinook salmon among the fish reported. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. On Rampart Lakes that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect August near 59°F and January near 26°F on the long-run figures. Conditions shift steadily rather than sharply. It should never be assumed safe, whatever the month says. The hot months push the fishing to dawn and dusk. It holds true on Rampart Lakes more years than not. Fish feed harder before a change in weather than after it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. There are toilets half a mile off. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. The nearest alternative is Rachel Lake, 0.6 miles out. Check the current arrangement for Rampart Lakes.