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Best smallmouth bass lakes in Washington

70 Washington waters hold smallmouth bass, 64 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. Current- and rock-loving fighter. Lives around gravel, boulders and hard-bottom structure.

1. Lake Chelan — 1400 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Chinook Salmon, Lake TroutWhy #1: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 11 public access sites
2. Moses Lake — 36 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, CrappieWhy #2: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
3. Columbia River — Reach 5 of 5 — 90 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish, SteelheadWhy #3: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
4. Lake Washington — 214 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Yellow PerchWhy #4: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
5. Potholes Reservoir — 142 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, CrappieWhy #5: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
6. Riffe Lake — 360 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #6: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
7. Lake Sammamish — 25 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Rainbow TroutWhy #7: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 11 public access sites
8. Osoyoos Lake — 208 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Rainbow TroutWhy #8: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 10 public access sites
9. Osoyoos Lake — 75 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Rainbow TroutWhy #9: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
10. Palmer Lake — 70 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Yellow PerchWhy #10: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
11. Deer Lake — 75 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Rainbow TroutWhy #11: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
12. American Lake — 90 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Rainbow TroutWhy #12: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
13. Long Lake — 20 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #13: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
14. Fish Lake — 40 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #14: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
15. North Twin Lake — 55 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #15: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
16. Lake Saint Clair — 110 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #16: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
17. Loon Lake — 100 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #17: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
18. Clear Lake — 95 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #18: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
19. Long Lake — 10 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #19: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
20. Deep Lake — 45 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #20: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
21. Blue Lake — 65 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #21: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
22. Blue Lake — 65 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #22: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
23. Deep Lake — 115 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #23: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
24. Fish Lake — 60 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #24: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
25. Long Lake — 90 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #25: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site

…plus 45 more Washington waters holding smallmouth bass.

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When to fish smallmouth bass in Washington

• Spring 3–12 ft — Gravel and rock flats near deep water; spawning happens on hard bottom.
• Summer 10–30 ft — Offshore rock humps and deep points; smallmouth suspend near bait.
• Fall 8–25 ft — Feeding hard for winter — long tapering points and rocky drops.
• Winter 20–45 ft — Deep, vertical presentations near rocky wintering holes.

Also in Washington: best largemouth 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

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