Rotary Lake, Washington: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Rotary Lake sits in Yakima County, out in Washington. The ground around here is open dry country. Small at around 20 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. You are 1.8 miles from Yakima. For a city, Tri-Cities is 68 miles off. Nearest other option: Berglund Lake at 0.4 miles, Lake Myron after 2.2 miles, Wenas Lake at 15 miles, Mud Lake after 18 miles and Naneum Creek at 21 miles. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Rotary Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Species logged across Yakima County include rainbow trout, pumpkinseed, mountain whitefish and cutthroat trout. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. The near bank of Rotary Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 71°F; by December the average is down near 30°F. The swings are modest, so patterns change slowly. It should never be assumed safe, whatever the month says. April and May are the settled weeks, with October close behind. It sets the rhythm of the year at Rotary Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. There is a recognised fishing place here: Rotary Lake, 80 yards off. Facilities run to toilets 150 yards from the water. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. For a change of water, Berglund Lake is 0.4 miles distant. For Rotary Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.