Fishing at Summer Lake, Skagit County, Washington

• Overview

  Summer Lake is set in Skagit County, Washington. It sits 10 miles in from the sea. At 7 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. The closest town, Big Lake, is 5.8 miles distant. For a city, Everett is 24 miles off. Near neighbours: Seabury Pond some 2.2 miles off, Lake McMurray 2.9 miles away, Devils Lake some 4 miles off, Shiner Lake 4.2 miles away and Big Lake some 4.4 miles off. The boundary is near enough that local access rules are worth double-checking.

• Where to Fish on Summer Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Species logged across Skagit County include Coho salmon, Chum salmon, pink salmon and rainbow trout. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. The near bank of Summer Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 62°F; the cold one sits at 38°F. The swings are modest, so patterns change slowly. In a normal year the cover is thin and short-lived. The cooler months are the comfortable ones to fish here. The season on Summer Lake follows the weather closely. A cold snap sets things back for several days.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. Part of this sits inside or beside Sumner Lake Conservation Area, so read the notices. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. If the gate is shut, Seabury Pond at 2.2 miles is the nearest alternative. Check the current arrangement for Summer Lake.