Waptus Lake in Kittitas County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  In Washington, Waptus Lake belongs to Kittitas County. The water sits 2,972 feet up. At 254 acres this is proper open water rather than a pond. There is roughly 3.7 miles of bank, more than one visit can cover properly. It ranks high for size among our Kittitas County listings. The town to know is Cle Elum, 24 miles out. Then Leavenworth, 25 miles, and Tanner, 27 miles. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Waptus Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. 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 Kittitas County: cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, Chinook salmon and sockeye salmon. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. Waptus Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give August about 54°F and December about 22°F. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around early May. Open water usually runs from early May until about late November. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. Plan any trip to Waptus Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Overnight stays are possible about half a mile out, where camping is mapped. There are toilets mapped about half a mile away. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. Failing this one, try Deadhead Lake, 1.6 miles away. The position on Waptus Lake is worth confirming on the day.