Cooks Lake

Only about three miles northwest of Bead Lake, in Kaniksu National Forest at 3,075 feet elevation. Cooks Lake is open year-round and is stocked annually with Put-Grow-&-Take Rainbow Trout, plus a few Rainbow Trout broodstock.

To get there, find Forest Road 5015 off of Boswell Road. A USFS campground is located at this lake.

Two-pole fishing is allowed

Shoreline access: Good - Shoreline access is good around much of the lake.

Species you might catch

Lake information

County: Pend Oreille
Acreage: 7.20 ac.
Elevation: 3074 ft.
Center: 48.34329, -117.172458
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Catchable fish plants

Release Location: COOKS LK (PEND)
Stock Date Species Number Released Number of Fish Per Pound Facility
Apr 21, 2010 Rainbow 108 0.4 SPOKANE HATCHERY
Jun 3, 2009 Rainbow 75 0.2 SPOKANE HATCHERY
Jun 5, 2008 Rainbow 100 0.3 SPOKANE HATCHERY
Apr 24, 2007 Rainbow 100 0.28 SPOKANE HATCHERY
Apr 24, 2006 Rainbow 130 0.27 SPOKANE HATCHERY
Apr 19, 2005 Rainbow 25 0.38 SPOKANE HATCHERY
Apr 19, 2005 Rainbow 25 0.18 SPOKANE HATCHERY
Apr 19, 2004 Rainbow 100 0.285 SPOKANE HATCHERY
Apr 30, 2002 Rainbow 201 0.285 SPOKANE HATCHERY
May 14, 2001 Rainbow 92 0.18 SPOKANE 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