Silver Lake

Located just outside the town of Medical Lake, Silver Lake is a year-round open season spot that has something for everybody. Fishing for warmwater species including largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie, and perch can be decent in the spring, but typically picks up as the water temperatures rise. In addition, Silver has been stocked with tiger muskies and provides an excellent trophy fishery for this elusive fish.  Silver Lake is also a popular winter fishery for yellow perch in years with safe ice conditions.

Two-pole fishing is allowed

Good for ice fishing

Shoreline access: Good - Shoreline access is limited to the WDFW Access Area, which has a fishing dock, and two resorts. The majority of the shoreline is developed in residential homes.

Species you might catch

Lake information

County: Spokane
Acreage: 418.10 ac.
Elevation: 2345 ft.
Center: 47.544484, -117.653158
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Catchable fish plants

Release Location: SILVER LK (SPOK)
Stock Date Species Number Released Number of Fish Per Pound Facility
May 22, 2012 Tiger Muskie 290 2.1 MESEBERG HATCHERY
May 24, 2011 Tiger Muskie 350 2 MESEBERG HATCHERY
May 7, 2009 Tiger Muskie 350 1.95 MESEBERG HATCHERY
May 30, 2007 Tiger Muskie 250 2.2 RINGOLD SPRINGS HATCHERY
May 18, 2006 Tiger Muskie 300 2.74 RINGOLD SPRINGS HATCHERY
May 25, 2004 Tiger Muskie 200 2.31 RINGOLD SPRINGS HATCHERY
Aug 28, 2003 Tiger Muskie 102 0.5 RINGOLD SPRINGS HATCHERY
Jul 14, 2003 Tiger Muskie 129 0.5 MESEBERG HATCHERY
Mar 27, 2002 Rainbow 51 0.222 SPOKANE HATCHERY
Mar 27, 2002 Rainbow 149 0.416 SPOKANE HATCHERY

Fishing prospects calendar

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

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

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

Image
Silver Lake
Photo by WDFW