Deer Lake (Columbia County)

This small bank fishing only lake off the Tucannon River is located within the Department of Fish and Wildlife, Wooten Wildlife Area.  Access to Deer Lake is gained by driving south of Rainbow Lake and hiking along an administrative road about 0.3 miles south of a locked gate. The lake is stocked with 10-12 inch rainbow trout, plus some jumbo (14 inch plus and 1.5 lb) rainbows. 

This lake is also located close to campgrounds on the Wooten Wildlife Area, U.S. Forest Service campgrounds and the KOA Campground at the Last Resort.  Camp Wooten State Park, National Forest lands, and the Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness are nearby.

Two-pole fishing is allowed

Shoreline access: Good - a short hike gets you to good shoreline access around most of the lake

Species you might catch

Lake information

County: Columbia
Acreage: 2.10 ac.
Elevation: 2270 ft.
Center: 46.305305, -117.652497
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Catchable fish plants

Release Location: DEER LK (COLU)
Stock Date Species Number Released Number of Fish Per Pound Facility
May 10, 2019 Rainbow 864 2.7 TUCANNON HATCHERY
May 10, 2019 Rainbow 25 0.65 TUCANNON HATCHERY
Apr 26, 2019 Rainbow 30 0.67 TUCANNON HATCHERY
Apr 15, 2019 Rainbow 25 0.67 TUCANNON HATCHERY
Apr 9, 2019 Rainbow 1,080 2.4 LYONS FERRY HATCHERY
Mar 28, 2019 Rainbow 50 0.6 LYONS FERRY HATCHERY
Mar 28, 2019 Rainbow 1,000 2.4 LYONS FERRY HATCHERY
Mar 19, 2019 Rainbow 25 0.8 TUCANNON HATCHERY
Mar 19, 2019 Rainbow 525 2.5 TUCANNON HATCHERY
May 24, 2018 Rainbow 43 0.6 TUCANNON 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