Red Lake, Washington: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Stevens County in Washington is where Red Lake sits. Everything around it is rolling hill. Small at around 9 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. Head to Deer Park, 12 miles away, for anything you forgot. Spokane sits 20 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water.

• Where to Fish on Red Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. County-wide records name brook trout, rainbow trout and brown trout. Read it as a county summary, not a water-by-water list. On Red Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  August runs about 68°F on average, January about 27°F. A long season, with weather mattering more than the month. It should never be assumed safe, whatever the month says. Late winter often fishes better here than midsummer does. Time your trip to Red Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. The nearest mapped parking is half a mile away, so the last stretch is on foot. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. If the gate is shut, Lake Spokane at 2 miles is the nearest alternative. Rules at Red Lake are worth checking on the day.