Washington Fishing Lakes
Lake-by-lake species, seasonal bite, boat access, and regulations for the biggest fishing lakes in Washington.
Banks Lake
Lake Chelan
Potholes Reservoir
Lake Roosevelt
Lake Washington
More Washington lakes
Tap a lake to open its guide: species, boat launches, bait shops, and size and creel limits.
Banks LakeGrant & Douglas Counties · 26,886 acres
Banks Lake
Banks Lake fills the upper Grand Coulee between Electric City and Coulee City. It is best known for smallmouth bass and walleye.
Species
Fishery rating out of 5.
Smallmouth Bass
Fish rocky points and basalt walls with tubes and jigs.
Walleye
Points, flats and reefs at low light. Jigs and live bait early, crankbaits and crawler harnesses in summer.
Largemouth Bass
Look in weedy bays.
Yellow Perch
Schools on mud and sand flats. Great through the ice.
Rainbow Trout
Shorelines and inlets in cool months, deeper water in summer.
Boat launches
6 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.
- Steamboat Rock State ParkFeeWashington State Parks at the north end near Electric City; Discover PassDirections ↗
- Million Dollar Mile NorthFeeWDFW water access on SR 155; ADA facilities, Discover Pass requiredDirections ↗
- Barker CanyonFeeWDFW water access on the west side; Discover Pass requiredDirections ↗
- Ankeny SouthFeeWDFW water access at the southwest end near Coulee City; Discover Pass requiredDirections ↗
- Osborn BayFeeWDFW water access near Electric City; Discover Pass requiredDirections ↗
- More public accessPublicSee Washington Fish & Wildlife or the lake manager's website for all ramps and feesDirections ↗
Size & creel limits
Special rules for this lake, confirmed from official state regulations. Minimum size and daily limit.
| Species | Min size | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|
| Crappie Year-round | 9 in | 10 / day |
| Yellow Perch Year-round | See Washington rules book ↗ | 25 / day |
| Smallmouth Bass Other game fish follow statewide rules; only 1 over 14 in | See Washington rules book ↗ | 10 / day |
| Walleye Other game fish follow statewide rules; only 1 over 22 in | 12 in | 8 / day |
| Largemouth Bass Other game fish follow statewide rules; only fish under 12 in, plus 1 over 17 in | See Washington rules book ↗ | 5 / day |
| Rainbow Trout Other game fish follow statewide rules | See Washington rules book ↗ | 5 / day |
Other species in this lake: look up the limits at Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (2026-27 pamphlet on eRegulations) ↗
Bait & tackle nearby
Closest shops to the lake and its boat launches. Call ahead for live bait and hours.
- Coulee Playland ResortNearby401 Coulee Blvd E, Electric City, WA(509) 633-2671Directions ↗
- Big Wally'sNearby9944 Hwy 2 E, Coulee City, WA(509) 632-5504Directions ↗
Local tips
- The lake usually freezes in winter and has a popular ice fishery.
- Two-pole fishing is allowed with the proper endorsement.
- The east shore has the best bank access, with several WDFW access sites.
View on interactive map
Zoom and pan on a street, satellite or terrain map. Red pins are boat launches; blue pins are bait shops nearby.
Lake WashingtonKing County · 21,934 acres
Lake Washington
A large, deep natural lake between Seattle and Bellevue, connected to Puget Sound through the Ballard Locks. It is known for smallmouth bass, cutthroat trout and yellow perch, with salmon runs passing through in some years.
Species
Fishery rating out of 5.
Smallmouth Bass
Rocky shorelines, docks and bridge structure. Best in spring as fish move in to spawn.
Yellow Perch
Catchable year-round from piers or boats. Best in summer after the spring spawn; schools go deep in winter.
Cutthroat Trout
Best in spring and fall. Troll or cast near shore; fish move deeper in summer.
Largemouth Bass
Weedy, shallow bays and docks. Dawn and dusk are best in summer.
Black Crappie
Docks and cover in spring around the spawn. Slower in summer.
Boat launches
5 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.
- Magnuson Park Boat LaunchFeeSeattle Parks, Sand Point. Open 6am-10pm year-round; launch fee and paid trailer parkingDirections ↗
- Stan Sayres Memorial ParkFeeSeattle Parks launch with four wide lanes; launch fee. Ramp replacement project listed, check statusDirections ↗
- Gene Coulon Memorial Beach ParkFeeCity of Renton launch, open 24 hours; launch and parking fee paid at pay box. Fishing pierDirections ↗
- Kenmore Boat LaunchPublicPrincipal boat ramp at the north end of the lakeDirections ↗
- Rainier Beach (Atlantic City Boat Ramp)PublicSeattle Parks ramp in Rainier BeachDirections ↗
Size & creel limits
Minimum size and daily limit for each species in Lake Washington are published by the state. Look up the current size and creel limits for this lake directly: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (2026-27 pamphlet on eRegulations) ↗
Bait & tackle nearby
No shops listed yet for this lake. Use the search link below.
Search more bait shops near Lake Washington ↗Local tips
- Two-pole fishing is not allowed, and there are zone closures along the floating bridges.
- Washington Department of Health advises not eating northern pikeminnow and limiting meals of bass, perch and cutthroat.
- Expect heavy boat traffic on summer weekends and around Seafair in early August, when ramps get crowded.
Potholes ReservoirGrant County · 14,282 acres
Potholes Reservoir
A Columbia Basin Project reservoir behind O'Sullivan Dam, about 15 miles south of Moses Lake. It is known for walleye and bass, plus winter trout and ice fishing in cold years.
Species
Fishery rating out of 5.
Walleye
Most-targeted fish here. Work dune edges and drop-offs with bottom bouncers and crawler harnesses.
Largemouth Bass
Flooded willows and the dunes in spring and early summer.
Smallmouth Bass
Rocky shorelines and main-lake points.
Rainbow Trout
Best in winter, early spring and fall. Net pen fish are released yearly; try near MarDon Resort and Medicare Beach. Some top 20 in.
Yellow Perch
Panfish numbers vary by year. An ice fishing target in the Lind Coulee arm.
Crappie
Black crappie around willows and brush in spring.
Boat launches
7 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.
- Potholes State ParkFeeWashington State Parks on Hwy 262. Ramp and dock; watercraft launch fee and Discover PassDirections ↗
- MarDon ResortMarinaPrivate resort on Hwy 262 with marina, boat rentals and tackle shopDirections ↗
- Glen WilliamsPublicWDFW water access site. Discover Pass requiredDirections ↗
- Lind Coulee BridgePublicWDFW water access on the Lind Coulee arm. Discover Pass requiredDirections ↗
- Medicare BeachPublicWDFW water access site, popular for trout. Discover Pass requiredDirections ↗
- BlythePublicWDFW water access site. Discover Pass requiredDirections ↗
- Crab CreekPublicWDFW primitive ramp, unimproved; may be unusable at low water in summer and fallDirections ↗
Size & creel limits
Minimum size and daily limit for each species in Potholes Reservoir are published by the state. Look up the current size and creel limits for this lake directly: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (2026-27 pamphlet on eRegulations) ↗
Bait & tackle nearby
Closest shops to the lake and its boat launches. Call ahead for live bait and hours.
- MarDon Resort Tackle ShopNearby8198 Highway 262 E, Othello(509) 346-2651Directions ↗
Local tips
- Water levels drop sharply through summer and fall for irrigation, which can leave primitive ramps high and dry.
- Two-pole fishing is allowed here with the two-pole endorsement.
- In cold winters the reservoir can freeze; the Lind Coulee arm is the popular ice fishing spot.