Thomas Lake (Skamania County)

Thomas Lake is located in the west side of the Indian Heaven Wilderness. The lake contains eastern brook, rainbow, and cutthroat trout. Fish species are planted alternately each year by backpack as fingerlings. The lake has some shore access, but a float tube offers the best fishing opportunity. This lake is easily accessible for day hiking and fishing, but the area contains several other lakes close by too such as Kwaddis, Dee, Heather, and Eunice Lakes. Camp sites are available so a person could fish these lakes for several days. Lake is usually accessible by late May early June depending on snowmelt. Mosquitos can be quite bad until late summer.

Getting here:

To get to Thomas Lake you take trail #111 which starts at the Thomas Lake Trailhead off of Forest Road 65. It is an easy short hike on a well defined trail to the lake.

Species you might catch

Lake information

County: Skamania
Acreage: 11.00 ac.
Elevation: 4304 ft.
TRS: T06R08E SEC17
Center: 46.002985, -121.82933
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Fish stocking info

Release Location: THOMAS LK (SKAM)
Stock Date Species Number Released Number of Fish Per Pound Facility
Jul 26, 2022 Rainbow 1,000 43 GOLDENDALE HATCHERY
Jul 14, 2021 Eastern Brook Trout 750 103 GOLDENDALE HATCHERY
Aug 18, 2020 Rainbow 440 22 GOLDENDALE HATCHERY
Jul 29, 2019 Eastern Brook Trout 1,000 91 GOLDENDALE HATCHERY
Jul 17, 2018 Rainbow 800 47 GOLDENDALE HATCHERY
Jul 21, 2017 Eastern Brook Trout 1,000 43 GOLDENDALE HATCHERY
Jul 6, 2016 Rainbow 994 212 GOLDENDALE HATCHERY
Jun 16, 2015 Eastern Brook Trout 1,000 69.8 GOLDENDALE HATCHERY
Jul 22, 2014 Rainbow 1,000 107.5 GOLDENDALE HATCHERY
Jul 16, 2013 Eastern Brook Trout 1,000 82.1 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