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Fishing Lake Chelan: what the data says
33,104-acre reservoir near Chelan. The lake tops out around 1400 ft. The depth chart is built from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the humps, channels and drop-offs you see are measured, not guessed. Below is the species-by-species picture, pulled from the same data the map uses.
Rainbow Trout fishing at Lake Chelan
In spring, rainbow trout run shallow here, mostly 5 to 20 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 8 to 30 ft, and winter fish settle into 8 to 40 ft. Shoreline point is the standout, a point at roughly 40 ft, rated good for fall rainbow trout. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Tie on a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Smallmouth Bass fishing at Lake Chelan
Start shallow in spring: smallmouth bass sit in 3 to 12 ft that time of year. By summer they slide out to 10 to 30 ft, and by winter most fish are in 20 to 45 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Break off the point: a drop-off around 53 ft that scores prime in winter. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. A drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 20 to 45 ft | midday | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Kokanee fishing at Lake Chelan
In spring, kokanee run shallow here, mostly 10 to 30 ft. They move out to 30 to 70 ft in summer and finish the year down in 20 to 80 ft. Offshore hump is the standout, a offshore hump at roughly 57 ft, rated prime for summer kokanee. Plan around early morning in the warm months. Tie on a dodger + pink/orange squid on downrigger or a kokanee bug + corn and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Small dodger + squid (pink), Wedding-ring spinner + corn |
| Summer | 30 to 70 ft | dawn | Dodger + pink/orange squid on downrigger, Kokanee bug + corn |
| Fall | 5 to 40 ft | dawn | Dodger + squid (deeper red/purple), Small spoon |
| Winter | 20 to 80 ft | dawn | Small glow jig + corn or maggot, Tiny spoon |
Lake Trout fishing at Lake Chelan
Start shallow in spring: lake trout sit in 10 to 40 ft that time of year. They move out to 50 to 120 ft in summer and finish the year down in 20 to 80 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Offshore hump: a offshore hump around 57 ft that scores prime in summer. Plan around early morning in the warm months. A white tube jig (deep) or a magnum spoon on downrigger covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Casting spoon over shoals, Jerkbait (shallow) |
| Summer | 50 to 120 ft | dawn | White tube jig (deep), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | dusk & dawn | Heavy casting spoon, Jigging rap over reefs |
| Winter | 20 to 80 ft | dawn | White tube jig, Airplane jig |
Chinook Salmon fishing at Lake Chelan
In spring, chinook salmon run shallow here, mostly 5 to 40 ft. By summer they slide out to 50 to 120 ft, and by winter most fish are in 30 to 90 ft. The spot to know is Break off the point, a drop-off in about 53 ft of water that rates prime for chinook salmon in summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a flasher + fly (green/white) or a magnum spoon on downrigger gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Trolled spoon (orange/gold), Stickbait off planer boards |
| Summer | 50 to 120 ft | dawn & dusk | Flasher + fly (green/white), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | dawn & dusk | J-plug (glow), Flasher + fly |
| Winter | 30 to 90 ft | midday | Small spoon on a slow troll, Stickbait deep |
Notable structure
- Deep basin: deep basin, around 1383 ft
- Deepest basin: deep basin, around 232 ft
- Sharp break: drop-off, around 207 ft
- Shallow feeding flat: feeding flat, around 200 ft
- Shallow feeding flat: feeding flat, around 167 ft
- Sharp break: drop-off, around 161 ft
- Rock reef: rock pile, around 146 ft
- Offshore hump: offshore hump, around 146 ft
- Offshore hump: offshore hump, around 116 ft
- Sharp break: drop-off, around 114 ft
- Main-lake point: point, around 107 ft
- Secondary point: point, around 89 ft
- Sharp break: drop-off, around 89 ft
- Shoreline point: point, around 85 ft
Common questions
How deep is Lake Chelan?
Lake Chelan is about 1400 ft at its deepest point. The depth chart here comes from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the contours reflect measured depths.
What fish are in Lake Chelan?
Anglers target smallmouth bass, rainbow trout, chinook salmon, lake trout, kokanee on Lake Chelan.
Where is the best fishing spot on Lake Chelan?
Offshore hump is the top-rated area: a offshore hump in about 57 ft of water that rates prime for lake trout in summer. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Lake Chelan?
For rainbow trout, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Nearby waters
Wapato Lake · Roses Lake · Patterson Lake · Methow River · Fish Lake · Big Twin Lake
See how Lake Chelan stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in Washington · best rainbow trout lakes in Washington · best chinook salmon lakes in Washington · best kokanee lakes in Washington
Browse all Washington fishing maps or every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: state fisheries survey programs. How we build these maps. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.