Fishing at Sinkhole Lake, King County, Washington

• Overview

  Sinkhole Lake sits in King County, out in Washington. Country round the bank runs to dry hill. At 4 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. It is a small entry by King County standards. Supplies mean a trip to Black Diamond, 3 miles off. Kent is the closest city, 13 miles away. You are close to a county edge here; who manages the access can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Sinkhole Lake

  Depth remains unrecorded, so treat the first session as a survey. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. County-wide records name Chum salmon, Coho salmon, Chinook salmon, sockeye salmon and yellow perch. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. The shape of Sinkhole Lake decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, August reads 64°F and January reads 38°F. The year never really closes; it just gets uncomfortable in summer. Heat pushes fish deep from June onwards, so start early. February into May fishes hardest as the water warms. Sinkhole Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. A carry of half a mile from the nearest parking is the price of fishing here. Bass Lake Complex Natural Area runs up to the bank here, which usually means extra restrictions. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Beaver Lake sits 0.3 miles off and takes the overflow. Ask locally about Sinkhole Lake if anything is unclear.