Best rainbow trout lakes in Washington
181 Washington waters hold rainbow trout, 176 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. The classic stocked cold-water trout. Depth is everything: rainbows follow the temperature layer they like.
- Lake Chelan — 1400 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Chinook Salmon, Lake Trout
- Lake Crescent — 570 ft max · survey depth data · Rainbow Trout, Kokanee, Cutthroat Trout
- Lake Sammamish — 25 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Rainbow Trout
- Sprague Lake — 15 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel Catfish
- Lake Tapps — 80 ft max · survey depth data · Rainbow Trout, Muskellunge
- Mason Lake — 90 ft max · survey depth data · Rainbow Trout, Kokanee, Cutthroat Trout
- American Lake — 90 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Rainbow Trout
- Palmer Lake — 70 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch
- Bumping Lake — 89 ft max · survey depth data · Rainbow Trout, Cutthroat Trout
- Loon Lake — 100 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill
- Lake Cavanaugh — 80 ft max · survey depth data · Rainbow Trout, Kokanee, Cutthroat Trout
- Blue Lake — 65 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill
- Lake Stevens — 150 ft max · survey depth data · Rainbow Trout, Kokanee
- Deer Lake — 75 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Rainbow Trout
- Lake Kapowsin — 25 ft max · survey depth data · Rainbow Trout
- Curlew Lake — 120 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Muskellunge, Yellow Perch
- Badger Lake — 105 ft max · survey depth data · Rainbow Trout, Kokanee, Cutthroat Trout
- Williams Lake — 115 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill
- Black Lake — 28 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Rainbow Trout
- Osoyoos Lake — 75 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Rainbow Trout
- Diamond Lake — 55 ft max · survey depth data · Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Cutthroat Trout
- Spectacle Lake — 55 ft max · survey depth data · Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Kokanee
- Duck Lake — 30 ft max · survey depth data · Rainbow Trout
- Summit Lake — 100 ft max · survey depth data · Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Brook Trout, Kokanee
- Lake Goodwin — 50 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Rainbow Trout
…plus 156 more Washington waters holding rainbow trout.
When to fish rainbow trout in Washington
- Spring 5–20 ft — Post-ice-out trout roam shallow; fish inflows and windblown shorelines.
- Summer 8–30 ft — Rainbows hold near cold inflows, current seams and the thermocline — find the cool water and you've found the fish.
- Fall 10–35 ft — Fall feeding on rock shoals, current and channel edges as water cools.
- Winter 8–40 ft — Trout are comfortable in cold water — one of the best winter targets; streams and tailwaters fish shallow, deep lakes hold on basin edges.
Also in Washington: best largemouth bass lakes · best smallmouth bass lakes · best crappie lakes · best bluegill lakes · best channel catfish lakes · best yellow perch lakes · best common carp lakes · best chinook salmon lakes · best coho salmon lakes · best brown trout lakes · best brook trout lakes · best kokanee lakes · best cutthroat trout lakes
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