Rainbow Trout Stocked · 19 plants · last May 15, 2026 Best: dawn, dusk Horseshoe Lake fishing
Horseshoe Lake fishing has Rainbow Trout, Steelhead, and Brown Trout on the stocking report. Also recorded: Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Yellow Perch, Pumpkinseed, Brown Bullhead, Yellow Bullhead, and 6 more. It is stocked about 12 times a year since 2025, most often in April and May. Species guides list dawn and dusk for Rainbow Trout, Largemouth Bass, and Common Carp, dawn, day, and dusk for Brown Trout, Bluegill, and Yellow Perch, and dusk for Pumpkinseed.
- Last stocked
- May 15, 2026
- · Rainbow Trout
- Plants on record
- 23
- Since 2025
- Species stocked
- 3 (+12 also recorded)
- Average size
- 16.5 in
- Surface acres
- 83.3
- Elevation
- 13 ft
Fish at Horseshoe Lake
Around the dates Horseshoe Lake is stocked, Open-Meteo's 2016-2025 archive puts mean air temperature at 49.8°F in April, 56.7°F in May, 40.2°F in January, 40.2°F in December. That is air temperature at these coordinates, not water temperature. Open-Meteo
Rainbow Trout Stocked · 19 plants · last May 15, 2026 Best: dawn, dusk 
Steelhead Stocked · 3 plants · last December 30, 2025 Last stocked December 30, 2025 · avg 30 in · 3 plants
Steelhead species guide
Brown Trout Stocked · 1 plant · last May 5, 2026 Best: dawn, day, dusk 
Largemouth Bass Confirmed present Best: dawn, dusk Best: dawn, dusk
Largemouth Bass species guide
Bluegill Confirmed present Best: dawn, day, dusk Best: dawn, day, dusk
Bluegill species guide
Yellow Perch Confirmed present Best: dawn, day, dusk Best: dawn, day, dusk
Yellow Perch species guide
Pumpkinseed Confirmed present Best: dusk Best: dusk
Pumpkinseed species guide
Brown Bullhead Confirmed present Best: dusk, night Best: dusk, night
Brown Bullhead species guide Yellow Bullhead Confirmed present
Black and White Crappie Confirmed present Best: dawn, dusk, night Best: dawn, dusk, night
Black and White Crappie species guide Warmouth Confirmed present
Common Carp Confirmed present Best: dawn, dusk Best: dawn, dusk
Common Carp species guide Northern Pikeminnow Confirmed present
Coho Salmon Confirmed present 
Cutthroat Trout Confirmed present Horseshoe Lake in Cowlitz County is managed as a catchable trout and warmwater species lake. It also supports populations of Largemouth Bass and a few other warmwater fish. (wdfw.wa.gov, accessed September 22, 2026)
Drafted by AI from the cited sources and checked before publishing.
How Horseshoe Lake is stocked
About 491 reported fish per acre, 3rd most of 5 lakes in Cowlitz County with both a fish count and a surface area.
Fish stocked in 2025
19,813
Fish stocked in 2026
21,122
Stocking history
| Date | Species | Quantity | Avg. length | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 15, 2026 | Rainbow Trout | 2,500 | 10 in | report |
| May 15, 2026 | Rainbow Trout | 30 | 19.2 in | report |
| May 15, 2026 | Rainbow Trout | 72 | 28.7 in | report |
| May 5, 2026 | Brown Trout | 3,240 | 9.6 in | report |
| April 16, 2026 | Rainbow Trout | 3,920 | 9.4 in | report |
| April 14, 2026 | Rainbow Trout | 3,120 | 9.8 in | report |
| April 7, 2026 | Rainbow Trout | 3,240 | 9.6 in | report |
| March 31, 2026 | Rainbow Trout | 3,000 | 9.6 in | report |
| January 26, 2026 | Rainbow Trout | 2,000 | 10 in | report |
| December 30, 2025 | Steelhead | 80 | 30 in | report |
| December 17, 2025 | Rainbow Trout | 35 | 23.5 in | report |
| December 17, 2025 | Rainbow Trout | 15 | 30 in | report |
| May 16, 2025 | Rainbow Trout | 2,500 | 10 in | report |
| May 16, 2025 | Rainbow Trout | 25 | 22.5 in | report |
| May 16, 2025 | Rainbow Trout | 20 | 29.4 in | report |
| April 22, 2025 | Rainbow Trout | 3,105 | 9.6 in | report |
| April 8, 2025 | Rainbow Trout | 3,000 | 10 in | report |
| April 8, 2025 | Rainbow Trout | 3,000 | 10 in | report |
| April 1, 2025 | Rainbow Trout | 3,000 | 10 in | report |
| March 19, 2025 | Rainbow Trout | 3,000 | 10 in | report |
| January 10, 2025 | Steelhead | 15 | 30 in | report |
| January 9, 2025 | Steelhead | 18 | 30 in | report |
| January 1, 2025 | Rainbow Trout | 2,000 | 9.6 in | report |
Access and facts
- Nearest town
- Woodland
Horseshoe Lake Park, a City of Woodland park along the north arm, has most of the fishable bank and the public boat launch. Homes line part of the outer bend, while the inside point of the horseshoe is natural and wooded.
Drafted by AI from the cited sources and checked before publishing.
Advisories, closures, regulations and water conditions change. Check the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife before you go.
About Horseshoe Lake
Nearest lakes
Common questions
What fish are at Horseshoe Lake?
Fishing Horseshoe Lake usually means Rainbow Trout: Rainbow Trout accounts for 19 of 23 plants on record, ahead of Steelhead and one more. Rainbow Trout was last stocked May 15, 2026, averaging 14.8 in. Steelhead was last stocked December 30, 2025, averaging 30 in. Brown Trout was last stocked May 5, 2026, averaging 9.6 in. Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Yellow Perch, and Pumpkinseed, plus 8 more are recorded here outside the stocking reports.
When is Horseshoe Lake stocked?
Last stocked May 15, 2026. It is stocked about 12 times a year since 2025, most often in April and May. About 491 reported fish per acre, 3rd most of 5 lakes in Cowlitz County with both a fish count and a surface area.
How big are the fish stocked at Horseshoe Lake?
Stocked fish average 16.5 in. Rainbow Trout average 14.8 in. Steelhead average 30 in. Brown Trout average 9.6 in.
How do you get on Horseshoe Lake?
The nearest town is Woodland. Horseshoe Lake Park, a City of Woodland park along the north arm, has most of the fishable bank and the public boat launch. Homes line part of the outer bend, while the inside point of the horseshoe is natural and wooded.
Which lakes near Horseshoe Lake were stocked more recently?
Klineline Pond (13.4 mi), Battle Ground Lake (13.5 mi), and Lake Merwin (15.4 mi) were stocked more recently. Klineline Pond is also stocked with Rainbow Trout, Battle Ground Lake is also stocked with Steelhead and Rainbow Trout, and Lake Merwin is also stocked with Rainbow Trout.