Spirit Lake in Skamania County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  You will find Spirit Lake in Skamania County, Washington. This is rolling hill country. Around 4.0 sq miles of open water: conditions change from one end to the other. The shoreline runs about 7.9 miles, so it pays to pick a stretch and stay with it. It is among the larger waters listed here for Skamania County. Supplies mean a trip to Morton, 21 miles off. The nearest city of size is Vancouver, 50 miles away. No boundary runs near, so the county rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Spirit Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Skamania County records list Chinook salmon, Coho salmon, rainbow trout, cutthroat trout and largemouth bass among the fish reported. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. On Spirit Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 29°F and August at about 59°F, the water has a wide range to work through. The season stretches long at both ends here. Some winters give nothing at all, so plan for open water. April and May are the settled weeks, with October close behind. That is the shape of the year on Spirit Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Boat use is marked as prohibited in public data. Mapping shows an empty shoreline: no ramp, no jetty, no marked entry. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Saint Helens Lake sits 2.4 miles off and takes the overflow. Check the current arrangement for Spirit Lake.