Fishing Tule Lake in Douglas County, Washington

• Overview

  Washington holds Tule Lake, in Douglas County. It sits in dry rangeland country. This is a pocket water of some 8 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. Electric City sits 21 miles from the bank. The nearest city of size is Spokane, 89 miles away. Also on the doorstep: Jollys Lake after 0.5 miles, Jollys Pond within 0.7 miles, Sullivan Lake after 1.1 miles, Heinlen Lake within 1.8 miles and Durk Lake after 1.8 miles. The county edge is within a short distance of the bank.

• Where to Fish on Tule Lake

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Reported across Douglas County: largemouth bass, sockeye salmon and black crappie. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. The shape of Tule Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 24°F in January up to 69°F in July. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. The lid usually goes in mid March, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. Expect the water usable from around mid March until roughly early December. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. The season on Tule Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. No built facilities appear in mapping around this water. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Jollys Lake at 0.5 miles is the sensible second choice. Ask locally about Tule Lake if anything is unclear.