Liberty Lake

The Liberty Lake water access area will be closed from 7 a.m. on Thursday, July 21 until 7 a.m. Friday, July 22 so a contractor can complete warranty work on chip sealing to the parking lot that was completed earlier this year.

Liberty Lake opens for fishing March 1st and is open through October 31st. During the month of March fishing can be outstanding for brown trout. Brown trout are notoriously difficult to catch but just after ice-out there is a window of opportunity to catch them easily at this lake. Once the water warms, largemouth and smallmouth bass, yellow perch, and other warmwater species dominate the fishery. This lake also has one of the best brown bullhead fisheries in the Spokane area and also provides a popular fishery for channel catfish.

Two-pole fishing is allowed

Shoreline access: Good - The majority of the shoreline is developed in residential homes. Limited shoreline access is available at the WDFW Access Site on the north end of the lake and at a Spokane County Park located on the southeast corner of the lake.

Species you might catch

Lake information

County: Spokane
Acreage: 706.10 ac.
Elevation: 2053 ft.
Center: 47.645159, -117.07807
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Fishing resources

Catchable fish plants

Release Location: LIBERTY LK (SPOK) (57)
Stock Date	Species	Number Released	Number of Fish Per Pound	Facility
Oct 28, 2024	Brown Trout	850	0.5	FORD HATCHERY
Jun 20, 2024	Channel Catfish	2,000	1	COLUMBIA BASIN HATCHERY
Mar 1, 2024	Rainbow	400	0.35	SPOKANE HATCHERY
Mar 1, 2024	Rainbow	3,999	2.5	SPOKANE HATCHERY
Nov 28, 2023	Brown Trout	780	0.5	FORD HATCHERY
Mar 21, 2023	Rainbow	4,002	2.5	SPOKANE HATCHERY
Mar 21, 2023	Rainbow	400	0.33	SPOKANE HATCHERY
Oct 28, 2022	Brown Trout	752	0.5	FORD HATCHERY
Mar 23, 2022	Rainbow	400	0.33	SPOKANE HATCHERY
Mar 7, 2022	Rainbow	4,000	2.5	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.

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

Walleye

Fishing peaks before and after the spawn, with the spawning period (April) being more difficult. Summer fishing is excellent, with a lull during the heat of the summer, while Fall sees an improvement as waters cool, vegetation dies back, and prey becomes more available. Winter is tougher, but still fair, since Walleye are readily caught during the winter months in deeper water.

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.

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.

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.