Moses Lake

Located in its namesake City, this body of water has a year-round fishing opportunities for warmwater fish and Rainbow Trout. WDFW fish surveys indicate a high abundance of Walleye and Smallmouth Bass. Walleye in Moses Lake can reach and exceed the 10 pound mark. Smallmouth Bass can reach and exceed the 5 pound mark. Largemouth Bass fishing can be excellent in select areas of Moses Lake. During certain times of the year anglers also catch Rainbow Trout up to 20 inches. Bluegill Sunfish and Black Crappie fishng at times can be very good, but is usually not consistent year-to-year. Yellow Perch fishing is usually very good during the fall through winter when they bunch up into large schools. During certain winters, Moses Lake freezes over offering a good ice fishery for Yellow Perch and Rainbow Trout. The most popular ice fishng location is near Blue Heron Park.

Moses Lake is one of the waters on which we conduct our annual Fall Walleye Index Netting (FWIN) surveys. The FWIN methodology was developed in Ontario, Canada as a means of monitoring a wide variety of biological parameters in Walleye populations in a standardized fashion using gill nets.

In April, shore fishing at the Alder Street Fill can be excellent for Walleye. For more information on this great opportunity please watch this video on shoreline fishing for walleye. See also: 2021 Moses Lake Walleye Fishing Prospects for more information on walleye fishing.

Two-pole fishing is allowed

Good for ice fishing

Shoreline access: Good - There are several access sites around Moses Lake where anglers can fish from shore.

WDFW water access areas on this lake

Species you might catch

Lake information

County: Grant
Acreage: 6727.90 ac.
Elevation: 1050 ft.
Center: 47.184562, -119.359089
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Fishing resources

Catchable fish plants

Release Location: MOSES LK (GRAN)
Stock Date	Species	Number Released	Number of Fish Per Pound	Facility
Apr 8, 2014	Rainbow	2,635	2.5	COLUMBIA BASIN HATCHERY
Apr 9, 2013	Rainbow	2,550	2.5	COLUMBIA BASIN HATCHERY
Apr 13, 2011	Rainbow	1,015	3	COLUMBIA BASIN HATCHERY
Apr 5, 2010	Rainbow	515	2.8	COLUMBIA BASIN HATCHERY
Jun 12, 2009	Rainbow	500	2.5	COLUMBIA BASIN HATCHERY
Apr 10, 2009	Rainbow	1,087	2.9	COLUMBIA BASIN HATCHERY
Apr 8, 2009	Rainbow	2,247	2.9	COLUMBIA BASIN HATCHERY
Jun 13, 2008	Rainbow	500	2.5	COLUMBIA BASIN HATCHERY
May 30, 2008	Bluegill	590	3	WDFW HAT (UNSPECIFIED)
Apr 11, 2008	Rainbow	500	2.8	COLUMBIA BASIN 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.

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.

Lake whitefish

Fishing for Lake Whitefish peaks during the summer as fish congregate in large schools over the deepest portions of the reservoir. There is a slight lull in October as fish transition to spawning areas. Fishing success peaks again in early to mid-December as fish congregate along the shoreline to spawn.