Liberty Lake

2022 Trout Derby

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The Liberty Lake water access area will be closed Monday, May 9 at 7 am thru Tuesday, May 17 at 5 pm to allow a contractor seven business days to finish an improvement project, including warranty work on the chip seal, installation of the boarding float, and restriping portions of the lower parking lot.

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.

WDFW water access areas on this 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
Mar 23, 2022 Rainbow 400 0.33 SPOKANE HATCHERY
Mar 7, 2022 Rainbow 4,000 2.5 SPOKANE HATCHERY
Nov 9, 2021 Brown Trout 819 0.5 FORD HATCHERY
Mar 11, 2021 Rainbow 400 0.33 SPOKANE HATCHERY
Dec 7, 2020 Brown Trout 750 0.5 FORD HATCHERY
Feb 25, 2020 Rainbow 4,000 2.8 SPOKANE HATCHERY
Feb 20, 2020 Rainbow 360 0.33 SPOKANE HATCHERY
Nov 21, 2019 Brown Trout 700 0.5 FORD HATCHERY
Nov 21, 2019 Brown Trout 700 0.5 FORD HATCHERY
Mar 26, 2019 Rainbow 300 0.3 SPOKANE HATCHERY
Visit the Catchable Trout Plants page for a more detailed search of trout plants in other bodies of water. To view and download the source data for this table visit the WDFW Fish Plants dataset on data.wa.gov.

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

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.
Chart of fishing prospects throughout the calendar year

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.
Chart of fishing prospects throughout the calendar year

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.
Chart of fishing prospects throughout the calendar year

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.
Chart of fishing prospects throughout the calendar year

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.
Chart of fishing prospects throughout the calendar year

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.
Chart of fishing prospects throughout the calendar year

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.
Chart of fishing prospects throughout the calendar year

Channel catfish

Fishing improves throughout the spring, peaking before the spawning period in June and July. 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.
Chart of fishing prospects throughout the calendar year

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.
Chart of fishing prospects throughout the calendar year

Photos
Liberty Lake
WDFW