Fishing at Starvation Lake, Stevens County, Washington

• Overview

  Stevens County in Washington is where Starvation Lake sits. Height above sea level is 2,375 feet. It measures about 27 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. 9.7 miles away sits Colville, the nearest town. Chewelah follows at 15 miles, then Kettle Falls at 18 miles. Nearby alternatives: Winslow Lake 1.2 miles, McDowell Lake just 2.2 miles, Keogh Lake 4.7 miles, Dailey Lake just 5 miles and White Mud Lake 5.1 miles. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Starvation Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Across Stevens County, recorded fish include brook trout, rainbow trout and brown trout. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. At Starvation Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 65°F in August and bottoms out near 24°F in January. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. Winter locks it down, and mid March brings it back. Expect the water usable from around mid March until roughly early December. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. At Starvation Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Mapping records no facilities at all near this water. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Winslow Lake at 1.2 miles is the sensible second choice. Check the position at Starvation Lake before loading the car.