01-06-23 REELLIFE print - Flipbook - Page 9
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With opening day of the
Western Washington
Lowland Lake opener in
the rearview mirror, many
of us are looking for future
lake fishing opportunities.
Let’s take the family fishing!
Following are a list of 5
family oriented Northern
Washington trout/kokanee
fishing adventure lakes.
One of them, Lake Samish,
would be a day adventure.
The other four could be a
multiday family camping
and fishing expedition. All
offer at least one boat ramp
and shore fishing, a fishing
pier, or both. This article will
focus on opportunity, and
not necessarily technique. All
the lakes offer opportunities
for trollers, bait soakers, and
even fly fishers. That said,
pack up the family, a frypan,
maybe the sleeping bags,
your favorite gear, then hit
the road!
CRANBERRY LAKE - Island
County
Cranberry Lake is located
within the boundaries of
Deception Pass State Park.
There are multiple shore
fishing access points and a
very nice fishing pier. There
is also a small boat ramp
with very limited parking.
If you are boating, internal
combustion engines are not
allowed on Cranberry Lake.
You can use an electric motor
but oars, paddles, or peddle
power are perfect.
At 133.9 acres, Cranberry
Lake hosts rainbow trout,
coastal cutthroat trout, and
an occasional brown trout.
I’ve heard that there are also
smallmouth bass and perch
in the lake but I’ve never
seen anybody fishing for
them. No picture, but when
I was a teenager (Boy Scout
camping trip) I caught a
huge brown trout from one
of the large boulders by the
campground. The brute hit
a worm/corn/marshmallow
combo.
Not really sure why, but I
love fishing Cranberry Lake.
Although it is not, to me it
feels like you’re fishing some
remote lake in the Canadian
wilderness. Be aware though,
NAS Whidbey is right next
door. There may be military
aircraft doing maneuvers
right overhead. I am in awe
anytime one of the Navy
aircraft are overhead but not
everybody feels that way. It’s
the sound of freedom!
If you’re not familiar with
Deception Pass State Park,
it is an absolute recreational
gem. There are multiple wells
separated campsites, miles
of hiking trails, and 77,000
feet of saltwater beaches to
enjoy. Across Highway 20
from the lake, there is even a
large saltwater boat launch
with moorage. It’s not really
mentioned anywhere, but
in season you can fish for
dungeness crab and smelt
from the moorage floats. On
the west side of the park, the
sunsets from West Beach
can be spectacular.
https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/
locations/lowland-lakes/
cranberry-lake
https://www.parks.
wa.gov/497/Deception-Pass
JUNE 2023 | 9