Thornton Lake Fishing near Darrington, Washington

• Overview

  Snohomish County in Washington is where Thornton Lake sits. The sea is 38 miles distant. It covers about 19 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. Darrington sits 9.6 miles from the bank. After that come Granite Falls at 27 miles and Gold Bar at 28 miles. Also on the doorstep: Beaver Lake 3.4 miles away, Indigo Lake out at 4.5 miles, Crystal Lake 4.6 miles away, Lake Metam out at 4.7 miles and Meadow Lake 5 miles away. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Thornton Lake

  Depth remains unrecorded, so treat the first session as a survey. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. County-wide records name Chinook salmon, pink salmon and Coho salmon. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. Treat Thornton Lake as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect August near 59°F and December near 28°F on the long-run figures. Mild ends to the year keep the season long. In a normal year the cover is thin and short-lived. November and March are the quiet, comfortable months to be out. That shapes the year on Thornton Lake. A rising level usually fishes better than a falling one.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. No car park, ramp or path is recorded within easy reach of the shore. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Beaver Lake at 3.4 miles is the sensible second choice. Check the position at Thornton Lake before loading the car.