West Medical Lake

Notice: WDFW may conduct a chemical treatment (rotenone) in the isolated ponds near the south shoreline of West Medical Lake to eradicate invasive Goldfish during October.

This lake is an opening day trout managed water which opens each year on the fourth Saturday in April. It continues to be stocked with Rainbow Trout and Brown Trout (including brood, catchables, and fry). 

When kept clean of other species, this lake is one of the best producing opening day trout lakes in the state.  This lake grows fish rapidly and it is not uncommon to see Rainbow and Brown Trout to 20+ inches.  Even though this lake is open to all types of angling, it can be an especially productive lake for flyfishing because of the consistent insect hatches it has in April and May.

It should be noted that while access to West Medical Lake remains available through a WDFW-managed site on the south end of the lake, walk-in shoreline access on the north end, through private property, is no longer legal.  The "unofficial" access on the north end was abused by litterers and continues to be posted with "No Trespassing" signs that should be respected.

Two-pole fishing is allowed

Shoreline access: Good - This lake has excellent shoreline fishing access. There is a lot of room close by the WDFW access. Walk-in shoreline access on the north end, through private property, is no longer legal.

Species you might catch

Lake information

County: Spokane
Acreage: 205.80 ac.
Elevation: 2427 ft.
Center: 47.57066, -117.707884
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Fishing resources

Catchable fish plants
Release Location: W MEDICAL LK (SPOK)
Stock Date Species Number Released Number of Fish Per Pound Facility
Mar 15, 2024 Rainbow 250 0.4 SPOKANE HATCHERY
Mar 11, 2024 Rainbow 5,002 2.5 SPOKANE HATCHERY
Nov 28, 2023 Brown Trout 205 0.5 FORD HATCHERY
Mar 24, 2023 Rainbow 250 0.33 SPOKANE HATCHERY
Mar 22, 2023 Rainbow 5,255 2.5 SPOKANE HATCHERY
Oct 28, 2022 Brown Trout 200 0.5 FORD HATCHERY
Mar 28, 2022 Rainbow 250 0.33 SPOKANE HATCHERY
Mar 15, 2022 Rainbow 5,001 2.5 SPOKANE HATCHERY
Oct 13, 2021 Brown Trout 200 0.3 FORD HATCHERY
Mar 16, 2021 Rainbow 450 0.33 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

Photos
West Medical Lake
Photo by WDFW