Top Lake Fishing near Gold Bar, Washington

• Overview

  Set in King County, Top Lake is a Washington water. It stands 4,554 feet above sea level. At 4 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. On size it sits at the modest end of our King County list. Gold Bar sits 22 miles from here and is the nearest stop. Bellevue is the closest city, 40 miles away. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Top Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Reported across King County: Chum salmon, Coho salmon and Chinook salmon. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. The shape of Top Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give August about 58°F and December about 27°F. Fishing continues through most of the calendar, with quiet spells rather than closures. It is not guaranteed from one year to the next. Spring and autumn carry the year; summer squeezes it into the ends of the day. Plan any trip to Top Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. The nearest mapped parking is half a mile away, so the last stretch is on foot. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Should this one be busy, Evans Lake is 0.6 miles off. Treat access at Top Lake as something to verify.