Cow Lake

Cow Lake is located approximately nine miles east of Ritzville off the Wellsandt Road. This lake was rehabilitated in 2007 to eradicate nuisance fish and restore a mixed species fishery. Fishing for Largemouth Bass and Bluegill Sunfish is fair to good. WDFW also stocks the lake with catchable size Rainbow Trout. Grass Pickerel and Brown Bullhead catfish are also very abundant and provide a different kind of fishing opportunity.

Two-pole fishing is allowed

Shoreline access: Good - Most of the shoreline is fishable.

Species you might catch

Lake information

County: Adams
Acreage: 199.30 ac.
Elevation: 1753 ft.
Center: 47.132084, -118.158123
Open in Google Maps

View larger map

Fishing resources

Catchable fish plants

10 most recent catchable (3 fish per pound or larger) fish plants in this lake
Stock Date	Species	Number Released	Number of Fish Per Pound	Facility

Visit the Catchable Trout Plants page for a more detailed search of trout plants in this or other bodies of water. To view or download the source data for this table visit the WDFW Fish Plants dataset on the Washington State Open Data Portal

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.

Largemouth bass

Fishing improves throughout the spring as waters warm and fish move onshore, peaking during the spawn. Summer is a slight lull though dawn/dusk hours can be very good. Catch improves in Fall as waters cool, vegetation begins to die back, and prey becomes more available. Winter is the hardest time because fish are offshore and slow moving.

Black crappie

Fishing improves throughout the Spring, peaking during the spawn. Summer is a slight lull, while Fall sees an improvement as waters cool, vegetation dies back, and prey becomes more available. During winter, the bite is slower, but anglers can have great success fishing through the ice when conditions are safe.

Bluegill

Bluegill can be caught year-round, but fishing is best in the warm months of Summer. Fishing improves throughout the spring, peaking during the spawn in early-Summer. Fish move offshore into deeper waters through the fall as water temperatures cool making it more difficult to target them. Winter is the most difficult season in which to catch Bluegill, but persistent anglers can find them in schools of like-sized fish offshore.

Brown bullhead

Fishing improves throughout the spring, peaking before the spawning period in May and June. Fishing may pick up in early Fall, followed by a decrease in action as waters cool. Winter is a difficult time to target this species.