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Best lingcod lakes in Washington

10 Washington waters hold lingcod, 10 mapped with real state-agency depth surveys. Ranked below by size and depth-data quality — open any water to see exactly where to fish it: depth contours, scored spots with plain-English reasons, seasonal windows and bait picks. A Pacific Coast ambush predator of rock, pinnacles and steep ledges, requiring stout tackle and a current check of tightly managed seasons and size rules.

1. Quartermaster Harbor — 153 ft max · survey depth data · 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 max · survey depth data · 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 max · survey depth data · 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 max · survey depth data · 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 max · survey depth data · 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 max · survey depth data · 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 max · survey depth data · 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. Blakely Harbor — 167 ft max · survey depth data · Cutthroat Trout, Pink Salmon, Chum Salmon, Pacific Chinook SalmonWhy #8: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
9. Shilshole Bay — 146 ft max · survey depth data · Pink Salmon, Chum Salmon, Pacific Chinook Salmon, Pacific Coho SalmonWhy #9: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
10. Browns Bay — 322 ft max · survey depth data · Cutthroat Trout, Pink Salmon, Chum Salmon, Pacific Chinook SalmonWhy #10: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site

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When to fish lingcod in Washington

• Spring 25–140 ft — Probe measured charted rock and steep breaks, but verify whether the fishery is open before targeting or retaining lingcod.
• Summer 20–180 ft — Work the up-current edge of rock with a heavy jig or large bait; immediately move a fish away from cover.
• Fall 30–200 ft — Shift down the ledge as water cools and recheck the current regional season and size rules before fishing.
• Winter 60–240 ft — Generally a deep and regulation-sensitive winter target; do not infer an open season from this map.

Also in Washington: best largemouth bass lakes · best smallmouth bass lakes · best crappie lakes · best bluegill lakes · best channel catfish lakes · best rainbow trout lakes · best yellow perch lakes · best common carp lakes · best chinook salmon lakes · best coho salmon lakes · best steelhead lakes · best brown trout lakes · best brook trout lakes · best kokanee lakes · best cutthroat trout lakes · best pink salmon lakes · best chum salmon lakes · best pacific chinook salmon lakes · best pacific coho salmon lakes · best english sole lakes

Lingcod elsewhere: California · Alaska