Schaefer Lake Fishing in Chelan County, Washington

• Overview

  Schaefer Lake falls in Chelan County, part of Washington. It stands 5,151 feet above sea level. Roughly 81 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. There is roughly 1.6 miles of shoreline here, which is a short walk end to end. Size puts it in the front rank of our Chelan County list. Leavenworth lies 27 miles from the water. The nearest city of size is Everett, 63 miles away. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Schaefer Lake

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Public occurrence data for Chelan County names cutthroat trout, rainbow trout and sockeye salmon. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. Anyone new to Schaefer Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate records put August near 59°F and December near 23°F. The season turns properly here, and fish follow it closely. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about mid April. The water is typically free of ice between mid April and late November. Spring is short and heavy here; autumn is longer and steadier. Time your trip to Schaefer Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. No made access is recorded, so a short walk in is the likely arrangement. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. D Lake, 1.1 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Check the position at Schaefer Lake before loading the car.