Fishing at South Lake, Okanogan County, Washington

• Overview

  In Washington, South Lake falls inside Okanogan County. The bank is 6,181 feet above sea level. Small at around 2 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. On size it sits at the modest end of our Okanogan County list. Some 42 miles away sits Granite Falls, the nearest settlement. Manson follows at 44 miles, then Brewster at 46 miles. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on South Lake

  We hold no depth figure for this one. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Fish documented in Okanogan County include rainbow trout, largemouth bass and sockeye salmon. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. South Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 54°F in August and bottoms out near 18°F in December. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from early May. The season between ice runs from about early May to mid November. Spring is short and heavy here; autumn is longer and steadier. Anyone fishing South Lake regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. Nothing is listed nearby for parking or launching a boat. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Beaner Lake sits 1.3 miles off and takes the overflow. Rules at South Lake are worth checking on the day.