Lake Washington Fishing, Size, Depth, And More

Lake Washington is a popular lake in the state of Washington. It’s the largest of the three major lakes in King County. It’s also the second-largest natural lake in the state.

The lake is considered very safe now and is a place where many people gather to hang out and get some time in the water. However, it wasn’t always so clean and pristine. To learn more about Lake Washington, continue reading below.

Location

Lake Washington is in the state of Washington, located between Seattle and Bellevue.

The towns that border the lake include:

• Seattle
• Lake Forest Park
• Kenmore
• Kirkland
• Yarrow Point
• Hunts Point
• Medina
• Bellevue
• Beaux Arts Village
• Renton

Additionally, there is an island that makes up a good portion of the lake called Mercer Island. On the island is a city that shares the same name.

History

Lake Washington’s history acts as a reminder that humans can greatly impact their local watersheds. Between 1941 and 1963, secondary sewage was released into the lake. This treated sewage led to large algal blooms, especially blooms of blue-green algae. Water quality quickly went downhill. Many of the other, native algae were wiped out by blue-green bacteria.

Thankfully, a scientist, Dr. W.T. Edmonson at the University of Washington started to research the water. He determined that the phosphorus from the sewage was leading to the bacteria outbreaks.

By the 1960s, the concentration of phosphorus was at 70 parts per billion. The water smelled and would often throw disgusting-smelling clumps of bacteria onto the shore.

It’s not all bad news, however. Once the problem was identified, a lot of money and power went into repairing the lake. Sewage was diverted and the water was diluted. By 1976, the water reached relatively normal levels of blue-green algae. Over further decades, the water grew more and more transparent, going from 30 inches to nearly 25 feet.

Size

The lake is a bit on the small side. Lake Washington has a surface area of 21,745 acres or 33.8 square miles. The maximum length of the lake is 22 miles. It’s much skinnier than it is long, with a maximum width of about 2.5 miles.

However, despite being somewhat small, it’s the largest of the three major lakes in King County. It’s also the second-largest natural lake in the state of Washington.

Depth

Lakes are made up of a variety of depths. The area near the shore is likely to be a lot more shallow than closer to the center of the lake. On average, the depth of Lake Washington is 108 feet. However, the maximum depth is 214 feet.

Water Level

Lake Washington’s water levels run around 20 to 22 feet. It’s highest around April to July and lowest in October to February. Sometimes, there are exceptionally low levels in November that drop down to 19.5 feet.

The water levels of Lake Washington change rather rapidly. It’s common for it to drop over a foot in just a month or two.

Fishing

There are dozens of different species of fish found in Lake Washington, but a few are more famous and sought-after than others.

Some of the more desirable fish in the lake include:

• Coastal cutthroat trout
• Largemouth bass
• Smallmouth bass
• Yellow perch
• Black crappie

The lake is a popular fishing destination. As such, there are quite a few fishing piers around the perimeter. The more popular ones include Waverly Park, Old Ship Museum Park, Marina Park, Luther Burbank Park, and Gene Coulon Memorial Park, but there are plenty of others to try as well.

It’s worth mentioning that PCB contamination is present in the lake. Because of this, there are recommended limits on how many fish caught from the lake you should eat at any given time.

Geology

Lake Washington came into existence at least 14,000 years ago, after the ice age. Giant glaciers and sheets of ice shaped most of the land and water in the area around the water.

The latest ice sheet, from 15,000 years ago was thought to be 3,000 feet at its thickest point. It scraped through the land, leaving valleys and craters. Some of which turned into lakes, like Lake Washington.

Then, about 1,000 years ago, a tremendous earthquake hit Lake Washington. Several chunks of land off of the nearby coast slid into the lake. This has led to preserved trees standing upright in the water, looking like an underwater forest.

Boating and Other Activities

There are quite a few water activities allowed in Lake Washington. If you enjoy getting some sun and being in the water, you won’t find yourself bored near the lake.

For one, both motorized boating and sailboating are allowed. Even if you don’t have your own boat or a friend that owns one, you’re in luck. Many companies nearby offer boat rentals.

If you have a group of friends, you can try other activities with motorized boats, like boat tubing, or water skiing. Otherwise, you can just travel around the lake and explore.

If you want to be a little closer to the water, paddle-boarding and kayaking are also options. Again, there are plenty of rentals around if you don’t have your own.

While you can’t swim everywhere in the lake, there are several swimming spots. Most of the beaches around the lake permit swimming. However, one should never go swimming near the center of the water, where the boats go.

If you like a more relaxed lifestyle, sunning is always an option as well. You can suntan on most beaches. If you’re a little more brave, you can even try one of the nude beaches along the lake. There are two main ones, but the one at Denny Blaine Park is the most well-known.

Camping

There are many campgrounds in and around Lake Washington. Some are privately owned, some are government-run, and some are nothing more than a place to pitch a tent near the water.

Whether you want to hike in and camp or have a more luxurious lifestyle by glamping with your RV, there are plenty of options within walking distance to Lake Washington.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Thomas Northcut/The Image Bank via Getty Images