Lake Chelan fishing

Lake Chelan fishing is stocked with Cutthroat Trout and Rainbow Trout on a natural lake. It is stocked about 7.5 times a year since 2025, most often in May and June. Species guides list dawn and dusk as the active times.

Last stocked: September 9, 2026; 21 days ago · Rainbow Trout
Plants on record: 15; Since 2025
Species recorded: 2
Average size: 9.5 in
Surface acres: 32,622.7
Elevation: 1,102 ft

Fish at Lake Chelan

2 stocked · 0 confirmed present

Cutthroat Trout Stocked · 11 plants · last May 28, 2026

Last stocked May 28, 2026 · avg 9.4 in · 11 plants

How to fish it

Fall is prime; fish hold in the lake's cooler, shallower northern reaches near docks and vegetation, feeding aggressively on worms and spinners, per a fishing guide. (fishingbooker.com, accessed September 25, 2026)

Cutthroat Trout species guide

Rainbow Trout Stocked · 4 plants · last September 9, 2026 Best: dawn, dusk

Last stocked September 9, 2026 · avg 10 in · 4 plants

Best: dawn, dusk

Rainbow Trout species guide

How Lake Chelan is stocked

Source: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

About 4.8 reported fish per acre, the fewest of 12 lakes in Chelan County with both a fish count and a surface area.

Fish stocked in 2025

67,223

Fish stocked in 2026

90,825

Stocking history

Showing 5 of 15 plants Showing 15 plants

All species Cutthroat Trout Rainbow Trout

Source: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Date	Species	Quantity	Avg. length	Source
September 9, 2026	Rainbow Trout	7,000	10 in	report
September 9, 2026	Rainbow Trout	4,250	10 in	report
September 9, 2026	Rainbow Trout	11,250	10 in	report
September 8, 2026	Rainbow Trout	3,400	9.8 in	report
May 28, 2026	Cutthroat Trout	16,350	9 in	report
May 27, 2026	Cutthroat Trout	11,745	9.2 in	report
May 27, 2026	Cutthroat Trout	11,310	9.2 in	report
May 26, 2026	Cutthroat Trout	22,620	9.2 in	report
May 26, 2026	Cutthroat Trout	2,900	9.2 in	report
June 18, 2025	Cutthroat Trout	10,260	9.6 in	report
June 18, 2025	Cutthroat Trout	10,500	9 in	report
June 17, 2025	Cutthroat Trout	11,340	9.6 in	report
June 17, 2025	Cutthroat Trout	10,387	9.6 in	report
June 16, 2025	Cutthroat Trout	11,340	9.6 in	report
June 9, 2025	Cutthroat Trout	13,396	9.8 in	report

Show all 15 plants + Show less

Access and facts

Water type: natural lake
Nearest town: Chelan, WA
Shore access: Yes
Boat ramp: Yes
Facilities: restrooms, dock

WDFW calls shoreline access good, with numerous boat launches and public docks; the upper lake's shoreline is mostly USFS land. Manson Public Ramps and Lake Chelan State Park (southwest side) are named boat and shore access points.

Other places to fish at Lake Chelan

Stehekin

The remote northern end of the lake, reachable only by ferry, plane, or on foot. (fishingbooker.com, accessed September 25, 2026)

Manson Public Ramps

A boat launch area near the town of Manson on the lake's lower end. (fishingbooker.com, accessed September 25, 2026)

Lake Chelan State Park

On the lake's southwestern side, with both shore and boat access. (wdfw.wa.gov, accessed September 25, 2026)

The Bar

A deep-water fishing zone for lake trout, worked 125 to 200 feet down, alongside Manson Bay. (fishingbooker.com, accessed September 25, 2026)

Manson Bay

Deep-water lake trout water alongside the Bar, and a noted fall fishing spot. (fishingbooker.com, accessed September 25, 2026)

The Narrows

A spring fishing area on the lake, per a fishing guide. (fishingbooker.com, accessed September 25, 2026)

View larger map · Open in Google Maps · Directions

About Lake Chelan

At 32,622.70 acres and stretching more than 50 miles from the town of Chelan to Stehekin, Lake Chelan is Washington's largest natural lake, sitting at 1,102 feet elevation in Chelan County. WDFW documents kokanee, cutthroat trout (stocked each June and July), lake trout, landlocked Chinook salmon, and smallmouth bass as the lake's primary targets; the lake trout state record, 35.63 pounds, was set here in February 2013.

Photo of Lake Chelan — Themerganser, CC BY 3.0

Nearest lakes

Antilon (Lower) 9.7 mi last stocked September 15, 2026 Dry Lake 11.4 mi last stocked September 14, 2026 Roses Lake 12.4 mi last stocked September 15, 2026 Alta Lake 18.9 mi last stocked April 3, 2025 Fish Lake 21.5 mi last stocked April 10, 2026

Camping near Lake Chelan

Campgrounds within 15 miles of Lake Chelan's mapped point, nearest first: Deer Point camping (1.5 miles), Safety Harbor Campground (1.9 miles), Grouse Mountain camping (3.4 miles), Junior Point camping (3.5 miles), and Corral Creek camping (4.5 miles), each with its own campground page on campgroundsdb.com.

Straight-line distances.

Public land at Lake Chelan

Lake Chelan is inside Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.

Boundaries from Public Lands DB, part of the same network.

Common questions

What fish are at Lake Chelan?

Fishing Lake Chelan usually means Cutthroat Trout: Cutthroat Trout accounts for 11 of 15 plants on record, ahead of Rainbow Trout. Cutthroat Trout was last stocked May 28, 2026, averaging 9.4 in. Rainbow Trout was last stocked September 9, 2026, averaging 10 in.

When is Lake Chelan stocked?

Last stocked September 9, 2026. It is stocked about 7.5 times a year since 2025, most often in May and June. About 4.8 reported fish per acre, the fewest of 12 lakes in Chelan County with both a fish count and a surface area.

How big are the fish stocked at Lake Chelan?

Stocked fish average 9.5 in. Cutthroat Trout average 9.4 in. Rainbow Trout average 10 in.

How do you get on Lake Chelan?

Shore fishing is available and there is a boat ramp. The nearest town is Chelan, WA. Facilities include restrooms and dock. WDFW calls shoreline access good, with numerous boat launches and public docks; the upper lake's shoreline is mostly USFS land. Manson Public Ramps and Lake Chelan State Park (southwest side) are named boat and shore access points.

Which lakes near Lake Chelan were stocked more recently?

Antilon (Lower) (9.7 mi), Dry Lake (11.4 mi), and Roses Lake (12.4 mi) were stocked more recently. Roses Lake is also stocked with Rainbow Trout.

Sources (2) +