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33,104-acre reservoir near Chelan. The lake tops out around 1400 ft. The depth chart comes from published agency bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. The season-by-season read for each species follows, from the map's own numbers.
The outline encloses 32,570 acres, worked by 121.1 miles of shoreline — 2 islands included. A development index of 4.8 means a maze of bays and points: far more casting targets than a round bowl of the same size. 0% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft) — cover, weeds and forage water. Call it 45.7 mi long by 5.9 mi wide at the broadest reach. Chelan County claims this one. Wapato Lake sits 14 mi southeast — the closest neighbouring chart.
When the water first warms, rainbow trout slide up into 5 to 20 ft. Summer is an 8 to 30 ft game here, winter an 8 to 40 ft one. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. Keep a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 8 to 40 ft | dawn | open water | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Early season smallmouth bass use the shallows, holding in 3 to 12 ft. Expect a summer slide to 10 to 30 ft, then a winter hold in 20 to 45 ft. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | open water | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 20 to 45 ft | midday | open water | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Come spring, look for kokanee tight to the bank in 10 to 30 ft. They move out to 30 to 70 ft in summer and finish the year down in 20 to 80 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deep break: a drop-off around 59 ft that scores prime in summer. Best bite is early morning. A dodger + pink/orange squid on downrigger or a kokanee bug + corn is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 30 ft | dawn | open water | Small dodger + squid (pink), Wedding-ring spinner + corn |
| Summer | 30 to 70 ft | dawn | Deep break (59 ft) | Dodger + pink/orange squid on downrigger, Kokanee bug + corn |
| Fall | 5 to 40 ft | dawn | open water | Dodger + squid (deeper red/purple), Small spoon |
| Winter | 20 to 80 ft | dawn | Deep break (59 ft) | Small glow jig + corn or maggot, Tiny spoon |
Spring lake trout on Lake Chelan hold shallow, usually 10 to 40 ft. They move out to 50 to 120 ft in summer and finish the year down in 20 to 80 ft. Put Offshore hump first on the milk run — an offshore hump near 112 ft that grades prime for summer. The feeding windows run early morning. The summer box starts with a white tube jig (deep) or a magnum spoon on downrigger.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (51 ft) | Casting spoon over shoals, Jerkbait (shallow) |
| Summer | 50 to 120 ft | dawn | Offshore hump (112 ft) | White tube jig (deep), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | dusk & dawn | Shoreline point (51 ft) | Heavy casting spoon, Jigging rap over reefs |
| Winter | 20 to 80 ft | dawn | Deep break (59 ft) | White tube jig, Airplane jig |
Early season chinook salmon use the shallows, holding in 5 to 40 ft. Summer is a 50 to 120 ft game here, winter a 30 to 90 ft one. The chart's best answer is Deep break — drop-off, 100 ft, prime for summer. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Tie on a flasher + fly (green/white) or a magnum spoon on downrigger and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (51 ft) | Trolled spoon (orange/gold), Stickbait off planer boards |
| Summer | 50 to 120 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep break (100 ft) | Flasher + fly (green/white), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (51 ft) | J-plug (glow), Flasher + fly |
| Winter | 30 to 90 ft | midday | Deep break (59 ft) | Small spoon on a slow troll, Stickbait deep |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: cutthroat trout in 3 to 15 ft. As the season builds they drop to 10 to 35 ft, wintering in 10 to 40 ft. Top water on the chart: Shoreline point, a point in the 51 ft range, good in winter. Time it for early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a trolled spoon (small) or an inline spinner gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Inline spinner (silver/gold), Small spoon |
| Summer | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Trolled spoon (small), Inline spinner |
| Fall | 5 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Casting spoon, Inline spinner |
| Winter | 10 to 40 ft | dawn | Shoreline point (51 ft) | Small jigging spoon, Marabou jig |
Lake Chelan also holds largemouth bass (8 to 20 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Lake Chelan carries 43 mapped structure features, topping out (or rather bottoming out) at Deep basin, about 1385 ft down.
Access data: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) — community-mapped launches. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
| Date | Species | Count | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 9 | Rainbow trout | 3,750 | — |
| Sep 9 | Rainbow trout | 3,250 | — |
| Sep 9 | Rainbow trout | 4,250 | — |
| Sep 8 | Rainbow trout | 3,400 | — |
| Sep 8 | Cutthroat trout | 600 | — |
| Sep 8 | Cutthroat trout | 2,100 | — |
| May 28 | Cutthroat trout | 16,350 | — |
| May 27 | Cutthroat trout | 11,745 | — |
Source: WDFW fish-stocking reports, retrieved 2026-09-23.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Washington waters are set by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife — and special regulations can apply to Lake Chelan specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Washington fishing regulations →
Lake Chelan is about 1400 ft (427 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart comes from published agency bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled.
Anglers target rainbow trout, smallmouth bass, kokanee, lake trout, chinook salmon, cutthroat trout, largemouth bass on Lake Chelan.
Offshore hump is the top-rated area: an offshore hump in about 112 ft of water that rates prime for lake trout in summer. Every other rated spot, per species and season, is on the map above.
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.
Yes — per WDFW fish-stocking reports records, Lake Chelan was most recently stocked Sep 9 with 3,750 rainbow trout. The full stocking history is listed above.
Fishing on Lake Chelan is regulated by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Check the official Washington regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Wapato Lake 14 mi · Roses Lake 15 mi · Alta Lake 19 mi · Fish Lake 24 mi · Methow River 25 mi · Big Twin Lake 26 mi · Patterson Lake 27 mi · Lake Wenatchee 27 mi · Davis Lake 27 mi · Pearrygin Lake 30 mi · Rainy Lake 34 mi · Green Lake 42 mi
See how Lake Chelan stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in Washington · best smallmouth bass lakes in Washington · best rainbow trout lakes in Washington · best chinook salmon lakes in Washington
More water nearby: Chelan County fishing maps (7 charts). Browse all Washington fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry: published agency survey data. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.