Council Lake (Skamania County)

Council Lake is a drive up mountain lake on the north west flank of Mt. Adams.  It has a U.S. Forest Service campground.  It is stocked annually with catchable rainbow trout, but also contains eastern brook, brown trout, and cutthroat trout.

The lake is open year round to fishing.  But lake access is usually blocked by snow until late spring/early summer.  Access is again blocked by snow around mid-November.

Species you might catch

Lake information

County: Skamania
Acreage: 43.70 ac.
Elevation: 4225 ft.
TRS: T09R09E SEC13
Center: 46.266702, -121.629467
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Fish stocking info

Release Location: COUNCIL LK (SKAM)
Stock Date Species Number Released Number of Fish Per Pound Facility
Sep 17, 2013 Cutthroat 1,665 333 GOLDENDALE HATCHERY
Jul 8, 2013 Rainbow 2,955 2.17 GOLDENDALE HATCHERY
Jul 24, 2012 Rainbow 5,000 2.5 GOLDENDALE HATCHERY
Jul 27, 2011 Rainbow 5,892 2.87 GOLDENDALE HATCHERY
Aug 2, 2010 Rainbow 4,503 2.78 GOLDENDALE HATCHERY
Jul 29, 2009 Rainbow 3,768 3 GOLDENDALE HATCHERY
Aug 6, 2008 Brown Trout 1,424 33 GOLDENDALE HATCHERY
Aug 6, 2008 Rainbow 4,109 2.6 GOLDENDALE HATCHERY
Jul 17, 2007 Rainbow 4,298 2.9 GOLDENDALE HATCHERY
Jul 10, 2006 Rainbow 4,165 2.8 GOLDENDALE HATCHERY

Fishing prospects calendar

Rainbow trout

Fishing success for Rainbow Trout is generally best in the spring when thousands of fish are stocked statewide, but they can be caught year-round in most waters with a little patience and persistence. Success remains high into June and gradually declines as water temperatures increase and fish move offshore to stay cool. Fish that escaped the spring harvest return to the nearshore areas in the fall as waters cool off. Some waters may also be stocked again in the fall further boosting catch rates.
Chart showing fishing prospects throughout the calendar year