Winter Lake Fishing in Snohomish County, Washington

• Overview

  In Washington, Winter Lake belongs to Snohomish County. It stands 1,785 feet above sea level. This is a pocket water of some 4 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. Gold Bar sits 6.3 miles from the bank. Then Sultan, 9 miles, and Lake Marcel-Stillwater, 12 miles. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Winter Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. County-wide records name Chinook salmon, pink salmon, Coho salmon, largemouth bass and pumpkinseed. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. Winter Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 59°F; the cold one sits at 32°F. The swings are modest, so patterns change slowly. In a normal year the cover is thin and short-lived. February into May fishes hardest as the water warms. Plan any trip to Winter Lake around it. The hour either side of first light is rarely wasted.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. Little Cavanaugh Lake sits 1.7 miles off and takes the overflow. Ask locally about Winter Lake if anything is unclear.