Wild Coastal Cutthroat Trout, Smallmouth Bass, and Yellow Perch are the main attractions; quality-size Largemouth Bass are present, but less abundant than Smallmouth Bass. Brown Bullhead are also present. Kokanee, Steelhead Trout, and some salmon species are closed to fishing. Salmon opportunity will depend on in-season abundance. Public access is through Lake Sammamish State Park plus a few private resorts. The state park surrounds the lake's south shore and offers a wide range of amenities, including multi-lane boat launching. There are no fishing piers, but angling is possible year-round from the shoreline or tie-up floats at the park.
Two-pole fishing is NOT allowed
Shoreline access: Good - Public shoreline access limited primarily to Lake Sammamish State Park.
Species you might catch
- Brown bullhead
- Chinook salmon
- Coastal cutthroat trout (resident)
- Coho salmon
- Kokanee
- Largemouth bass
- Pumpkinseed Sunfish
- Signal crayfish
- Smallmouth bass
- Sockeye salmon
- Three-spine stickleback
- Yellow perch
Lake information
County: King
Acreage: 4853.10 ac.
Elevation: 30 ft.
Center: 47.594174, -122.098209
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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.
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.
Smallmouth 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.
Yellow perch
Yellow Perch can be caught year-round. Fishing is best in the summer after they finish spawning in April-May. Fish can be readily angled through the summer from both the shore and boat. Catch begins to decline in the fall as water temperatures cool and fish move offshore forcing anglers to pursue them in boats. Successful fishing for Yellow Perch in the winter involves either targeting schools in deep water from boats or through the ice.
Pumpkinseed Sunfish
Pumpkinseed Sunfish are ubiquitous in most lowland lakes and readily caught year-round. Fishing is best in the spring and summer, peaking during the spawn in June. 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 to catch Pumpkinseed, but persistent anglers can find nice-sized schools 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.
