Lakes open year round

[Benlev]

What are some of your favorite lakes that are open year-round?

I live in Seattle, but am more than willing to drive a few hours for a productive lake. I have a (small) boat so shore access isn't an issue. At this point, I mostly fish trout but would like to start fishing other species as well. Any and all suggestions are appreciated. Thanks!

[ncwflounderer]

Fish lake near Lake Wenatchee

[strider43]

Flowing lake can be productive, go when the solunar calendar is indicating good fishing.

[Benlev]

Thanks guys. I usually try to make it to fish lake once a year. Been to flowing lake once, but only fished from the dock. I will have to get back out there on the boat.

[strider43]

I get some nice fish out of Flowing, but you do need a boat.

[The Quadfather]

Lake WA. Lake Sammamish, Lake Stevens, Pass Lake.

[spoonman]

Blackman usually kicks out some nice fish.

[Schenk]

Rufus Woods and Lake Roosevelt!

[Benlev]

Strider43 - I never followed solunar calendar too closely. Have you seen pretty good results?

The Quadfather - I've always been a little hesitant to fish those lakes (with the exception of Pass) due to the huge sizes. Guess I just need to get out there and do some exploring.

spoonman - Never been to Blackman, but it looks like a good spot. I will definitely check it out soon.

Schenk - I'm heading to Potholes in the next few weeks, hopefully I have a chance to fish Rufus Woods or Roosevelt while I am somewhat near.

Again, thanks for all the suggestions. Much appreciated.

[spoonman]

Think ill be on stevens this sunday looking for kokanee.

[The Quadfather]

Strider43 - I never followed solunar calendar too closely. Have you seen pretty good results?

The Quadfather - I've always been a little hesitant to fish those lakes (with the exception of Pass) due to the huge sizes. Guess I just need to get out there and do some exploring.

spoonman - Never been to Blackman, but it looks like a good spot. I will definitely check it out soon.

Schenk - I'm heading to Potholes in the next few weeks, hopefully I have a chance to fish Rufus Woods or Roosevelt while I am somewhat near.

Again, thanks for all the suggestions. Much appreciated.

Benlev,

Yeah, you said smaller boat, so wasn't sure if your size. Always good to be safe.
You can though look at some of the larger lakes, and think of them as being divided into sections.

If i was fishing Lake WA. and felt overwhelmed by its size, etc. i would consider just launching at the launch that is directly across from the Mercer Island launch...(it may be called, Newport..? Just google map it)
If you were in even a 12' boat..: you launch there and go about 100 yards directly South, and you come into that housing neighborhood that is a series of canals off of the main body of the lake.
Again, google map it.
We are coming into Spring time. That is like fishing in the canals of Venice. Completly sheltered from the main body of the lake, i.e. Wind/chop, etc. this is a GREAT place for early spawning bass. Think about April.
I would even take my float tube in there.

If you go to Pass lake, it is an outstanding fishery, but realize it is fly fishing only. But what a great place to get a cheap fly rod and drag a woolly bugger around.

Also, think about Rattlesnake lake, North Bend. Beautiful sub-alpine lake, clear water. Got the Steelhead plant awhile back.
I fished it twice around Nov/dec. fish were falling out of the trees.
It can get super windy up there, though.

Let us know what you do.

[ncwflounderer]

Lake Chelan could be a good option for you depending on the forecast check out NOAA weather report, if the wind is blowing it can get pretty big and definitely is not safe for a small boat, but there are many calm days to be had. launching from mill bay or even the state park gets you fairly close to the action. safety is important, but if you are going to be in the area, it may be worth checking out, if you like Kokanee, rainbow, mackinaw, the occasional landlocked Chinook, and even big beautiful bass

[Benlev]

Went out to blackmans and flowing yesterday. No fish but still a great day. Any of you guys fish at Panther or storm lakes out by flowing?

[spoonman]

I fish panther,storm and flowing. Storm used to have HUGE trout in it. But they are all gone. Still my favorite trout lake and im usually up there every weekend in the spring when it opens. Ive been shore fishing panther for the last few weeks and haven't caught squat. They only put 1500 a year in there, which seems really low for a year round lake. It probably fishes ok in the spring, but think this time of year its mostly fished out. As for flowing, find the drop off in front of the county park. Its very weedy, but if you troll along the edge of the weeds you can pick up a few.

[strider43]

I have caught most of my big fish in flowing in the bay where the WDFW boat launch is, near the end in the middle. I have caught fish out by the rock buoy closer to the county park. Last year in March I caught 35-40 planters near the WDFW boat launch in one outing. The current fishing cycle is off is part of the problem, I catch way more trout at the peak of the cycle.
what did you fish with?

[spoonman]

Interesting, ive never caught anything of size at the wdfw boat launch side. I love posting up there in march though and throwing spinners. This year i will be trying a flyrod.

[Benlev]

Trolled a few differet wedding rings am dick nites. Only had about 2 hrs at flowing and it was my first time there in a boat so I spent good amount of time just exploring. I am still trying figuring out how to troll at different depths without down riggers so the lack of success might be all my own fault haha

[strider43]

Interesting, ive never caught anything of size at the wdfw boat launch side. I love posting up there in march though and throwing spinners. This year i will be trying a flyrod.

two years ago I caught 6 fish all over 16" just off the WDFW boat launch. I had trolled most of the lake with no results and them saw a boat anchored near the WDFW boat launch catching planters. I anchored and threw rooster tail spinners and caught a couple of dozen planters and the larger planter/holdovers that I mentioned above. It surprised me as well as I was in the weeds. I find that in some lakes in E WA have large amounts of fish in the shallow ends of the lake. Green lake Okanogan Co, Fish lake Okanogan CO. Blue lake Sinlehekin Valley, Alta lake.

[strider43]

Trolled a few differet wedding rings am dick nites. Only had about 2 hrs at flowing and it was my first time there in a boat so I spent good amount of time just exploring. I am still trying figuring out how to troll at different depths without down riggers so the lack of success might be all my own fault haha

Those are great offerings, I keep changing it up until I find what they are wanting to bite on. One of my favorites which typically yields good results are flies behind a small dodger. To get deeper I will use an in line sinker above the dodger or a larger dodger and let my line out before I start to troll so it sinks to the bottom. I have had great success with the dodger sinking to bottom and then starting my trolling motor in E WA on windy, sunny days....

[strider43]

Another great trout lure is a wedding ring with the hook replaced with a fly. Carey Special in olive or green is my favorite.