Lake Cushman

Cushman Lake offers a year-round open season. This North Fork Skokomish River impoundment is a natural lake enlarged by a dam.

Please note: Lake Cushman is a reservoir managed by Tacoma Power for hydroelectric power generation, therefore the lake level fluctuates seasonally. Between Memorial Day and Labor Day the elevation is maintained between 735' and 738' for recreation purposes. During the rest of the year the lake is drawn down below 720' and boat launches are not usable.

Caution has to be taken in some areas due to stumps and other sunken debris. No rainbow trout are stocked into this lake. It does offer kokanee fishing in the summer and good late-season cutthroat fishing.

Two-pole fishing is NOT allowed

Shoreline access: Good - extenisve access along western shore but best fished by boat

Species you might catch

Lake information

County: Mason
Acreage: 4014.60 ac.
Elevation: 738 ft.
Center: 47.487901, -123.2669
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Fishing resources

Catchable fish plants

Release Location: LK CUSHMAN (MASO)
Stock Date	Species	Number Released	Number of Fish Per Pound	Facility
Jun 11, 2001	Cutthroat	210	1	EELLS SPRINGS

Fishing prospects calendar

Coastal cutthroat trout (resident)

Fishing is best for Coastal Cutthroat in the spring and fall. There is a summer lull as fish move offshore into deeper waters to escape the summer heat in July and August. Catch is lowest in the late-winter while adults are spawning in tributary streams.

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.