Badger Lake

Badger Lake is one of the most popular lowland trout lakes in the region. WDFW annually stocks both Rainbow and Cutthroat Trout fry which drive the fishery.  WDFW also stocks a modest number of Kokanee each year.

When kept clean of nuisance fish species, this lake is one of the best opening day trout lakes in the state.  Badger Lake is a great family fishing destination, whether you enjoy the lake from a boat or try your luck bank fishing from the WDFW access area.

Two-pole fishing is allowed

Shoreline access: Good - Bank access is limited to the WDFW owned public access. however there is ample room and great opportunity to catch trout from this public access site

Species you might catch

Lake information

County: Spokane
Acreage: 217.30 ac.
Elevation: 2178 ft.
Center: 47.350827, -117.628971
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Fishing resources

Catchable fish plants
Release Location: BADGER LK (SPOK)
Stock Date Species Number Released Number of Fish Per Pound Facility
Mar 15, 2024 Rainbow 150 0.4 SPOKANE HATCHERY
Mar 29, 2023 Rainbow 150 0.33 SPOKANE HATCHERY
Apr 11, 2022 Cutthroat 500 3 FORD HATCHERY
Mar 21, 2022 Rainbow 150 0.33 SPOKANE HATCHERY
Mar 12, 2021 Rainbow 150 0.25 SPOKANE HATCHERY
Mar 27, 2020 Rainbow 150 0.33 SPOKANE HATCHERY
Apr 2, 2019 Rainbow 4,002 3 SPOKANE HATCHERY
Mar 27, 2019 Rainbow 150 0.3 SPOKANE HATCHERY
Mar 23, 2018 Rainbow 5,004 2.5 SPOKANE HATCHERY
Mar 20, 2018 Rainbow 200 0.3 SPOKANE HATCHERY
Visit the Catchable Trout Plants page for a more detailed search of trout plants in other bodies of water. To view and download the source data for this table visit the WDFW Fish Plants dataset on data.wa.gov.

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

Westslope cutthroat trout

See chart for details.
Chart of fishing prospects throughout the calendar year

Kokanee

The Kokanee fishery typically lasts from April-October before the adults leave the lake to spawn in tributaries starting in late-October and early-November. Fishing is best in the spring before they move into deeper water to avoid warming water temperatures, but they can be targeted throughout the summer in deeper offshore areas near the thermocline. There may be a slight uptick in some waters in the fall as adults return to shallower water and move near shore towards spawning tributaries.
Chart of fishing prospects throughout the calendar year

Photos
Badger Lake
Photo by WDFW