Banks Lake fishing

Banks Lake fishing is stocked with Rainbow Trout, Largemouth Bass, Black crappie, Bluegill, Burbot, Channel catfish, and 6 more on a reservoir. It is stocked about once a year since 2025, most often in April. Species guides list dawn and dusk as the active times.

Banks Lake
Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Williamborg assumed (based on copyright claims)., Public domain
Last stocked
April 17, 2026
166 days ago · Rainbow Trout
Plants on record
2
Since 2025
Species recorded
1
Average size
10.2 in
Surface acres
26,888.3
Elevation
1,574 ft

Fish at Banks Lake

1 stocked · 12 confirmed present

Rainbow Trout Stocked · 2 plants · last April 17, 2026 Best: dawn, dusk

Last stocked April 17, 2026 · avg 10.2 in · 2 plants

Best: dawn, dusk

Rainbow Trout species guide
Black crappie Confirmed present
Black crappie species guide
Bluegill Confirmed present
Bluegill species guide
Burbot Confirmed present
Burbot species guide
Channel catfish Confirmed present
Channel catfish species guide
Common carp Confirmed present
Common carp species guide
Kokanee Confirmed present
Kokanee species guide
Lake whitefish Confirmed present
Lake whitefish species guide
Largemouth bass Confirmed present Best: dawn, dusk

Best: dawn, dusk

Largemouth bass species guide
Smallmouth bass Confirmed present
Smallmouth bass species guide
Walleye Confirmed present
Walleye species guide
Yellow perch Confirmed present
Yellow perch species guide

How Banks Lake is stocked

Source: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

About 0.1 reported fish per acre, 6th most of 7 lakes in Grant County with both a fish count and a surface area.

Fish stocked in 2025

1,100

Fish stocked in 2026

1,200

Stocking history

Source: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
April 17, 2026 Rainbow Trout 1,200 10 in report
April 18, 2025 Rainbow Trout 1,100 10.4 in report

Access and facts

Water type
reservoir
Shore access
Yes
Boat ramp
Yes

Shoreline access: Good. There are several places to fish along the eastern shoreline of Banks Lake. WDFW maintains a public water access area on this lake.

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About Banks Lake

Photo of Banks Lake
No machine-readable author provided. Williamborg assumed (based on copyright claims)., Public domain

Nearest lakes

Park Lake 21.2 mi last stocked October 3, 2025 Jameson Lake 24.1 mi last stocked March 23, 2026 Rat Lake 36.8 mi last stocked September 15, 2026 Alta Lake 37.2 mi last stocked April 3, 2025 Frank's Pond 37.2 mi last stocked June 5, 2026

Camping near Banks Lake

Campgrounds within 15 miles of Banks Lake's mapped point, nearest first: Steamboat Rock State Park camping (2.2 miles), Spring Canyon Campground (12.1 miles), and Spring Canyon Group Sites camping (12.1 miles), each with its own campground page on campgroundsdb.com.

Straight-line distances.

Common questions

What fish are at Banks Lake?

Fishing Banks Lake usually means Rainbow Trout. All 2 plants on record are Rainbow Trout. Rainbow Trout was last stocked April 17, 2026, averaging 10.2 in. Black crappie, Bluegill, Burbot, and Channel catfish, plus 7 more are recorded here outside the stocking reports.

When is Banks Lake stocked?

Last stocked April 17, 2026. It is stocked about once a year since 2025, most often in April. About 0.1 reported fish per acre, 6th most of 7 lakes in Grant County with both a fish count and a surface area.

How big are the fish stocked at Banks Lake?

Rainbow Trout stocked at Banks Lake average 10.2 in.

How do you get on Banks Lake?

Shore fishing is available and there is a boat ramp. Shoreline access: Good. There are several places to fish along the eastern shoreline of Banks Lake. WDFW maintains a public water access area on this lake.

Which lakes near Banks Lake were stocked more recently?

Rat Lake (36.8 mi) and Frank's Pond (37.2 mi) were stocked more recently. Frank's Pond is also stocked with Rainbow Trout.

Sources (1) +