Fishing in Washington State: Top Spots for Freshwater Angling in the Evergreen State

Washington State prides itself on being one of the best places in the nation for freshwater fishing. The Evergreen State offers beautiful scenery and an abundance of waterways. Many locations in Washington rank near the tops of many lists of the best fishing spots in the country.

In 2012, Outdoor Life ranked the town of Goldendale among its top 35 hunting and fishing towns, acknowledging the bevy of “salmon, steelhead, bass, walleyes, perch, crappies, and catfish...in [its] waters.”

For freshwater fishing fans, here are a few other locations that are considered top spots for freshwater angling in the Evergreen State.

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1. Columbia River
The Columbia River is, arguably, “The biggest draw to freshwater fishersmen in the state of Washington,” according to the Pacific Northwest Fishing Directory. The river features “seasonal salmon and steelhead fishing and year-round sturgeon fishing on the Columbia.”

2. Lake Curlew
Curlew is located near the Canadian border and “attracts bigmouth bass and trout fishermen year-round,” according to the travel blog Monty's Musings. In addition, there are RV campsites and boat docks available.

3. Banks Lake
Located near Grand Coulee Dam, Banks Lake is another lake highlighted by the blog. It includes trout, walleye and largemouth bass.

4. Spencer Lake
Spencer Lake is located on Olympic Peninsula, and features plenty of largemouth bass, trout and crappie.

5. Mineral Lake
Mineral Lake is located in Mineral and features "some of the best rainbow trout fishing in the state," according to USA Today. "The season begins in late April and runs through Labor Day weekend."

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6. Little Mashel River
Little Mashel River is located south of Eatonville. It’s known for its sturgeon, pink salmon and redbreast sunfish. Fly fishing, spinning, and/or bait and casting are all popular at this location. Folks visiting this location should “check with the Washington State Department of Wildlife to make sure you have the proper licenses to fish here and that there are no restrictions on the running salmon. Check with locals and the Nisqually Tribe to make sure you aren't fishing on Nisqually Land Trust property the tribe is working to restore,” USA Today said.

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