Washington’s top 5 ice fisheries
Curlew Lake
The “Holy Land” for Washington Yellow Perch ice fishing. Illegally introduced into the lake nearly a decade ago. Yellow Perch have become the dominant ice fishery in the lake. Due to the lake’s productivity and fishing pressure, the lake’s Yellow Perch have not yet become stunted like they have in so many other lakes in the region.
The best perch fishing is the first month after the ice forms when fish can be found in 20-40’ of water in dense schools that roam the flats on the south end of the lake. As the winter progresses they become more difficult to catch and move into deeper water locations.
Aside from Yellow Perch the lake also provides opportunities for ice fishing Rainbow Trout and Kokanee. On occasion someone hooks a Tiger Muskie but are rarely fortunate enough to pull it through the ice.
Bonaparte Lake
If you love cold and isolation then this is the perfect lake for you. Tucked in the shadow of Mount Bonaparte in the Okanogan Highland it gets cold…really cold. It is also home to a thriving ice fishery for trout and Kokanee. The real star of the show is the lake’s thriving Tiger Trout population but the lake also support Rainbow and Brook Trout.
The best trout fishing is in less than 20’ of water and often associated with emergent vegetation sticking up through the ice. If you want Kokanee head out to deep water 60-100’ deep and jig mid column. The lake also support a small and elusive population of Lake Trout (aka Mackinaw)
Patterson Lake
Located in the upper Methow Valley this multi-species lake is conveniently located near Sun Mountain Resort and the tourist town of Winthrop. If you are looking for a location with lots of recreational opportunities for the family and a chance to get out on the ice this is a good choice.
The lake supports Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Kokanee, Black Crappie, Yellow Perch, and Rainbow Trout. You never know what you might catch here. The bite is either wide open or non-existent in my experience but tends to best in the morning and evening.
For a basic overview of ice fishing check out this video. As an Amazon Associate I earn a commission from qualifying purchases made through the Amazon links on this page. I only link products I use and recommend. Your purchases help support this blog and the production of new content. Thank you!
The Evergeen state isn’t exactly world renowned for its ice fishing opportunities but many would be surprised to discover that “first ice” of the season usually proceeds more traditional ice fishing strongholds such as the Midwest and Great Lakes by several weeks. The bulk of ice fishing opportunities in the state are found in the northeast and north-central part of the state.
Rainbow and Brook Trout represent the majority of fishing opportunities but handful of lakes provide opportunities for spiny ray species such as Yellow Perch, Bluegill, and Crappie. During especially cold winters, often associated with La Nina events in the Pacific Ocean, larger Columbia Basin lakes may freeze opening the chance to target species such as Walleye, whitefish, and Burbot.
What Kind of Gear do I Need?
A 28-32” long medium or medium light graphite or glass ice fishing rod will suffice for 95% of your Washington ice fishing needs. A small spinning reel spooled with 4 to 6 lb fluorocarbon or braid works great for on the ice and on an ultralight trout rod during open water season.
Here are some my recommended rods/reels:
Ugly Stik GX2 Medium Ice Combo: $29 - A great all around combo with a slow action glass tip and graphite base this rod will help you detect light bites and put the stick to those larger fish.
13 Fishing Microtec Panfish 27” Combo: $40 - Premium graphite rod paired with a spring bobber will let you detect those fickle bites so typical of perch and bluegill.
HT Ice Blue 24” & 30” rods: $23 - Quite possible the noodliest ice rods on the market these ultra-sensitive rods make even a small fish feel big and you won’t miss a bite with their super sensitive and bright orange rod tip.
Pflueger President 20X Spinning Reel: $60 - My favorite spinning reel on the ice and for trout fishing streams and lakes in the summer. Small, compact, and reliable with a buttery smooth drag system.
Of course you are going to need an auger to get through the ice. Fortunately manual augers are affordable. I recommend the Eskimo Ice fishing manual augers.
Tiger Pass Lakes
This chain of lakes include several popular ice fishing lakes such as Thomas, Gillette, and Coffin Lakes. Among the first lakes in the state to freeze each year these lakes provide a diversity of ice fishing opportunities including Brook Trout, Kokanee, Largemouth Bass, Crappie, and Yellow Perch.
This part of the state is prone to heavy snowfall so come prepared to dig down to the ice and slushy surface conditions. The best thing about these lakes is you never know what you might catch and its not uncommon to pull 3 or 4 species through a single hole in the ice.
Fish Lake
Less than 3 hours from Seattle, Fish Lake is a popular winter ice fishery due to its proximity to the Pugetropolis. The lake supports Rainbow and Brown Trout. However, its abundant Yellow Perch population gets the most attention.
This lake typically doesn’t freeze until well into January or February most years and often gets deep snow. Parking is available at the Cove Resort on the sw. side of the lake and the best fishing is out on the flats north and northwest of there.
Make It Happen!
Ice fishing can be a lot of fun and is definitely worth adding to your winter adventures checklist. These are just a few of the many ice fishing opportunities that exist in Washington state. For more information on ice conditions and on where to ice fish check out this handy map I created and update regularly.