Tapto Lakes, Washington: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Tapto Lakes lies within the bounds of Whatcom County, Washington. It lies 5,738 feet above sea level. It covers about 9 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. It is high ground by Washington standards. Eastern Hillsides lies 27 miles from the water. For a city, Chilliwack is 33 miles off. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Tapto Lakes

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Survey and observation records for Whatcom County include sockeye salmon, Coho salmon and white sturgeon. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. Work Tapto Lakes in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 54°F; the cold one sits at 22°F. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. Winter locks it down, and early May brings it back. Open water usually runs from early May until about mid November. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. Time your trip to Tapto Lakes by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. A campsite is mapped about half a mile away, which makes an early start easier. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Lake Reveille at 0.9 miles is the sensible second choice. Nothing on Tapto Lakes should be assumed from this page alone.