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Best english sole lakes in Washington

11 Washington waters list english sole (official records or labelled estimates), 11 mapped with survey or official-chart depth data. Ranked below by size and depth-data quality, leading with the waters in our reviewed search catalog — open any water to see exactly where to fish it: depth contours, scored spots with plain-English reasons, seasonal windows and bait picks. A soft-bottom Puget Sound flatfish associated with sand and mud flats beside deeper channels; follow the current location-specific health advisory wherever one applies.

1. Quartermaster Harbor — 153 ft · Survey depth data · 77% measured · real survey depth contours · Cutthroat Trout, Surfperch, Pink Salmon, Chum SalmonWhy #1: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
2. Inner Elliott Bay — 551 ft · Survey depth data · 99% measured · real survey depth contours · Pacific Chinook Salmon, Pacific Coho Salmon, English Sole, LingcodWhy #2: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
3. Dyes Inlet — 134 ft · Survey depth data · 93% measured · real survey depth contours · Cutthroat Trout, Pink Salmon, Chum Salmon, Pacific Chinook SalmonWhy #3: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
4. Sinclair Inlet — 68 ft · Survey depth data · 96% measured · real survey depth contours · Cutthroat Trout, Chum Salmon, Pacific Chinook Salmon, Pacific Coho SalmonWhy #4: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 3 public access sites
5. Poverty Bay — 509 ft · Survey depth data · 77% measured · real survey depth contours · Cutthroat Trout, Pink Salmon, Chum Salmon, Pacific Chinook SalmonWhy #5: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
6. Port Gamble Bay — 66 ft · Survey depth data · 89% measured · real survey depth contours · Cutthroat Trout, Pink Salmon, Chum Salmon, Pacific Chinook SalmonWhy #6: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
7. Eagle Harbor — 66 ft · Survey depth data · 99% measured · real survey depth contours · Pink Salmon, Chum Salmon, Pacific Chinook Salmon, Pacific Coho SalmonWhy #7: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
8. Gig Harbor — 40 ft · Survey depth data · 77% measured · real survey depth contours · Cutthroat Trout, Pink Salmon, Chum Salmon, Pacific Chinook SalmonWhy #8: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 3 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
9. Blakely Harbor — 167 ft · Survey depth data · 93% measured · real survey depth contours · Cutthroat Trout, Pink Salmon, Chum Salmon, Pacific Chinook SalmonWhy #9: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
10. Shilshole Bay — 146 ft · Survey depth data · 93% measured · real survey depth contours · Pink Salmon, Chum Salmon, Pacific Chinook Salmon, Pacific Coho SalmonWhy #10: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
11. Browns Bay — 322 ft · Survey depth data · 88% measured · real survey depth contours · Cutthroat Trout, Pink Salmon, Chum Salmon, Pacific Chinook SalmonWhy #11: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site

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When to fish english sole in Washington

• Spring 30–120 ft — Work clean sand or mud beside a measured channel edge; check the current location-specific Washington DOH serving guidance before keeping fish.
• Summer 10–90 ft — Juveniles may use shallower soft bottom while adults range deeper; avoid disturbing contaminated sediment and follow the current local advisory.
• Fall 25–140 ft — Follow clean sand or mud down the channel shoulder as water cools and recheck current marine-area rules and location-specific consumption guidance.
• Winter 40–180 ft — Use a slow bottom presentation on safe-weather days; exact trawl occurrence does not predict a daily bite.

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