Camping/Trout Fishing Lake for Family

[SeatoSummit88]

Hey Everyone,

Our daughter is just about ready to start casting lines and setting hooks. We are looking to make a nice 3 day weekend trip to a lake that has campsites and a size-able enough area to catch some trout. I would love to hear everyone's suggestions for lakes they would recommend for a nice relaxing getaway.

thanks much

[Jakefish]

Silver Lake in Whatcom County has lots of camping options (RV hookups, tent pads, cabins), boat rentals of all kinds, and plenty of fishing from shore as well. It is heavily stocked with trout and although it opens this Saturday with all the other lowland lakes, fishing stays good well into June as it is up in the hills and well shaded, so the water stays cool (although there is also a shallow swimming area that gets warmer). This lake has everything, but that includes swimmer's itch, so be careful.

[SeatoSummit88]

Thanks Jakefish! I will take a look at pictures/reviews of Silver Lake. We were hoping to find a lake that was almost like a quiet alpine/mixed with easily accessible sites. Have you been to Fish Lake before? I have heard good reports from there in the spring and summer time.

[fisherman92]

ID suggest Lake Ki. Its a great trout lake with no gas motors and no wake.
Oh yeah and Lake Ki has Country Burger within walking distance from the camping and that place is great eatin!

[The Quadfather]

Hey Everyone,

Our daughter is just about ready to start casting lines and setting hooks. We are looking to make a nice 3 day weekend trip to a lake that has campsites and a size-able enough area to catch some trout. I would love to hear everyone's suggestions for lakes they would recommend for a nice relaxing getaway.

thanks much

Can you give parameters for how far you want to travel?
Also, are you in a boat, or on shore?

[SeatoSummit88]

Thanks Fisherman92. I will take a look at that lake as well!

Quadfather, sorry I didn't add more to my post. We live in Bothell and are willing to travel a couple hours. We would like to check out a new area for us (east-ellensburg/wenatchee) or South (south of Olympia). Our other friends who are coming along have a 16 foot ribbed zodiac center console or we can bring a couple canoes. Shore fishing is great too. I think the biggest thing is, getting my daughter and their son hooked into some trout and seeing some smiles.

[branweeds]

I would really suggest silver lake as well. It provides great trout fishing and it is in a beautiful area, you can even cruise up to the Mt Baker area or Nooksack falls one afternoo

[The Quadfather]

Sorry, one more question... when is the trip? Can make a difference in regs, and/or campground access.
Lots of cool things out there, but biggest mission is to get your daughter on fish easily. I have to look deeper when off from work.

[Juniah87]

I would aggree with Silver lake as well. Mostly because it is a central camping location for a lot of great local Whatcom County lakes. Toad lake is nearby, and provides good numbers of trout. Tarrell is also nearby for any warmwater desires. They have bass and yellow-belly catfish. Rumored to have channel cats as well. And of course if you can't get your shore fishing fix at Silver, you can make a run over to Padden, which has a trail completely surrounding the lake, with fishing access every few yards. Make sure to update this topic with pictures of your trip when you end up going, we would all love to see where you ended up going and how you ended up doing, and most importantly, if your daughter gets hooked on fishing because of the trip! Hope you have a great time!

[SeatoSummit88]

Quad father, the trip would be happening within the next 3 weeks or so.

I appreciate everyone's opinions and ideas. It's nice to see an open forum with open minds! I am going to talk it over with the wife and with our friends who are tagging along as well. I will let everyone know what lake we decided, hopefully soon! And of course pictures to follow!

tight lines!

[Jakefish]

If you are going soon, I can see why you are leaning toward the east side -early May is still pretty chilly for camping with kids in western WA.

[riverhunter]

This time of year can be tough camping with kids as the weather is still unpredictable

[riverhunter]

Lake ki is a great option. While it is not an alpine lake it is a rather quiet lake. Fish lake is nice but the fishing is hit or miss at times. They do have boat rentals as well. Grandy lake in Skagit county is another option as well. Near the potholes you have warden lake which is usually a good lake to fish but the camping isn't the best there. I'm not a big fan of desert camping with minimal shade

[SalmonAddict]

Hey if it's all for getting the kids into fish, I'd recommend either the Easton ponds or lavender lake along I-90 in kititas county. However you can't directly camp on site of the lake/ponds but there's campgrounds less than 2-3 miles away.

[Juniah87]

I just got back from a lake in Kittitas County that I would highly recommend for new anglers. It's called Mattoon Lake. You can see I-90 from the lake, there is a road that goes around most of the lake for decent shore access, but if you have a small boat (non-motorized) it is fantastic fishing. The fish are small, but it is nonstop action, I caught 20 fish in 2 hours just using a worm and a jig. Just about any small lure with a nightcrawler trailer will get you loads of fish. But again, there is no camping on the lake itself.

[JoshH]

Cranberry Lake in Deception Pass State park. Grandy Lake up Hwy 20. Diablo (Colonial Creek Campground) if you want real a complete alpine feel (prettiest spot in the state imo) but fishing can be hot or not.

[spenny1823]

If you wanted to go a little more out of your way, Cascade lake on orcas island up in the San Juan would be great as well. I just moved here and posted a report this evening (hopefully it will be up soon). It's absolutely gorgeous and you would be staying at Moran state park. Keep in mind it's electric motors only though. There is also trails a plenty and another decent sized lake close by called mountain lake. Plenty of shore access at cascade if you didn't want to bring the boat.

[JoshH]

If you wanted to go a little more out of your way, Cascade lake on orcas island up in the San Juan would be great as well. I just moved here and posted a report this evening (hopefully it will be up soon). It's absolutely gorgeous and you would be staying at Moran state park. Keep in mind it's electric motors only though. There is also trails a plenty and another decent sized lake close by called mountain lake. Plenty of shore access at cascade if you didn't want to bring the boat.

I love Moran State Park. Actually decent Kokanee fishing in Cascade lake too.

[SeatoSummit88]

Thanks so much for the spot ideas!!! I have been looking into Cranberry Lake, and now I have interest in Cascade Lake. Hopefully the next weekend we will be heading out.

[Ric and Theresa]

You had asked about Fish Lake. They have a lot of camping sites, but can fill up quick after memorial day. Try to get there early on Friday or even Thursday to get a good spot. Mosquitoes can get bad in the summer.
They do have a great dock to fish from with a store to keep you supplied with anything you could probably need. Scott is the owner and he likes giving tips and tricks, plus he also stocks jumbo trout along with what the WDFW puts in.

We will be up there May 11-13 in a white North River, taking advantage before the holiday rush. Stop and say hi if your up there.