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The Evergreen State has an abundance of beautiful scenery, wildlife and natural landscapes that provide an idyllic backdrop for bass fishing.
But, while stunning scenery can be a plus, you may be more interested in knowing where the best bass fishing in Washington is.
We’ve made a list of a few of our favorite spots to look for bass in this northwest state.
Best Lakes And Rivers For Bass In Washington WA
1: Lake Sammamish
Lake Sammamish can be handy if you’re in Seattle, as it’s just a 15 to 20 minute drive away. The large lake is home to a variety of species, including smallmouth bass, cutthroat trout, yellow perch and many others, including largemouth bass. However, the main draw of the lake seems to be for smallmouth bass and trout.
Lake Sammamish State Park has plenty of access to the water for shore fishing and taking out an angler’s sit-on kayak or boat. There are also kayak rentals in the park. There are lots of docks around the lake, which can be good spots to target smallmouth and drop shot rigs can be a useful set-up.
2: Potholes Reservoir
Largemouth and smallmouth bass can be found in Potholes Reservoir, as well as walleye and trout. There are several access points around the reservoir and there is also access and shore fishing from Potholes State Park. The reservoir offers year round fishing, and can sometimes offer ice fishing in winter.
Potholes provides a fantastic habitat for bass, with plenty of cover and structure, from rocks and islands to brush, sand dunes and submerged timber. The northern portion of the lake could be particularly good for targeting largemouth bass because of the sand dunes there and access to shallow water.
3: Lake Washington
Lake Washington is located just to the east of downtown Seattle, making it easily accessible from the metro area. It can be an ideal spot for finding smallmouth and largemouth bass, as well as a variety of salmon and trout.
There are several piers around the lake, as well as many other locations where you can fish from the bank, or boat ramps if you want to launch a vessel. The piers can be handy all year round because there are both shallow water piers and deep water piers, letting you target bass at different depths.
Video: Fishing Public Piers at Lake Washington
4: Columbia River
The Columbia River is home to largemouth and smallmouth bass and can be fished all year. The stretch of the river around the Bonneville Dam can be a great spot since it has good access to the river on both sides of the dam, including a fishing pier at Rock Cove and a boat ramp at Hamilton Island.
Lipless crankbaits can be a useful lure to use in the Columbia River, as these can cover water easily and can work with the river conditions all year round.
5: Moses Lake
About 170 miles east of Seattle, Moses Lake can offer great smallmouth and largemouth bass fishing, as well as opportunities to catch walleye and rainbow trout. Blue Heron Park, just off I90, can be a good spot, as it has a fishing bridge and a boat launch.
April through September can be some of the best times to fish for both largemouth and smallmouth, although the lake is open for fishing all year round. In cold winters, it can sometimes also freeze over when it then becomes a popular ice fishing destination.
Closing Thoughts
Washington can be a fantastic state for fishing, with a variety of different species and conditions on offer depending on the time of year. It can provide excellent bass fishing, with fisheries open all year in many places.
A lot of the lakes and rivers offer great access for boating and fishing, with several good fishing locations within a short distance of Seattle.
Maybe you have a favorite Washington spot that we haven’t mentioned? Tell us about it. And remember to share these hotspots with your fishing buddies.