Upper Wildcat Lake Fishing Guide, King County, Washington

• Overview

  Upper Wildcat Lake is a King County water, Washington side. Around the bank it is open valley. With some 48 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. With about 1.1 miles of edge, you can try several depths in one session. It ranks high for size among our King County listings. Supplies mean a trip to Tanner, 12 miles off. For a city, Renton is 34 miles off. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Upper Wildcat Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Reported across King County: Chum salmon, Coho salmon, Chinook salmon, sockeye salmon and yellow perch. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. On Upper Wildcat Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 57°F; the cold one sits at 26°F. The freeze here is occasional rather than annual. In a normal year the cover is thin and short-lived. March through May is the strongest run, with October and November a second stretch. Upper Wildcat Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. The nearest alternative is Lower Wildcat Lake, 0.6 miles out. Rules at Upper Wildcat Lake are worth checking on the day.