Sullivan Lake Kokanee Fishing Washington: A Complete Angler’s

Tucked into Pend Oreille County near the Idaho border, this remote landlocked sockeye fishery sits in the far northeastern corner of Washington and offers a self-sustaining kokanee population. This deep, clear reservoir consistently produces silver, deep-bodied kokanee salmon from late spring through early fall, and the run is supported by a WDFW stocking program that keeps the action steady year after year. Average fish run 9 to 12 inches, with the occasional 14-inch keeper in a good forage year.

You’ll find seasonal timing, depth strategies, trolling setups, regulations, and trip logistics for chasing kokanee at Sullivan Lake, along with lodging, launch details, and current WDFW rules to check before you go.

Where Sullivan Lake Fits in Washington’s Kokanee Scene

Sullivan Lake sits roughly 11 miles south of Metaline Falls, close to the Canadian border and the Idaho state line. Boundary Dam on the Pend Oreille River created the reservoir, and the basin drops more than 350 feet at its deepest points, giving kokanee the cold, oxygen-rich water they need to thrive. Surface elevations hover near 2,600 feet, and the surrounding Colville National Forest keeps the shoreline wild and the boat traffic a fraction of what you’ll see at Chelan or Roosevelt.

What elevates Sullivan Lake beyond a dot on the map is the consistent stocking program run through the Sullivan Lake Hatchery. Each spring, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) plants fingerlings that grow into the 10–14 inch kokanee filling coolers most summers. The forage base of Meteor Lake-stocked kokanee plus wild rainbow and brook trout means you won’t find a one-fish show either.

How Sullivan Lake Compares to Other Washington Kokanee Waters

Chelan, Roosevelt, and Sammamish draw the headlines and the crowds, while Sullivan Lake trades trophy-sized fish for solitude, clear water, and elbow room at the launch. The trade-off is that fish tend to run smaller on average, typically 9 to 12 inches, with the occasional 14-inch kicker in a good year.

Lake	Avg. Kokanee Size	Typical Depth Range	Setting
Sullivan Lake	9–12 in	30–80 ft	Remote, forested, lightly pressured
Lake Chelan	12–16 in	40–120 ft	Long, deep, popular
Lake Roosevelt	10–14 in	25–70 ft	Large reservoir, variable
Lake Sammamish	10–13 in	30–90 ft	Urban, heavily fished

If you want a kokanee in the boat without jockeying for position on a crowded lake, Sullivan rewards the effort. The trade is real: smaller average fish, fewer total acres, and a longer drive from any major Washington city.

Reading the Seasons and Water Conditions

Kokanee fishing at Sullivan Lake runs strongest from mid-May through early October, with the sweet spot landing between mid-June and late August when the thermocline stabilizes. Spring brings cold, well-mixed water and a brief shallow bite near the surface. Midsummer pushes schools down into the 40–80 foot band where cool, oxygenated water sits just above the mud line.

Once surface temperatures climb past 68 degrees, kokanee hover directly above the thermocline and refuse to chase anything above it. Dawn and dusk windows often pull them up a few feet, but midday usually demands a deep presentation.

Daily Patterns and Thermocline Movement

A typical summer day on Sullivan plays out the same way it does on most western kokanee lakes. The first hour of light brings fish up to 30–45 feet, biting readily on faster trolled presentations. As the sun climbs and boat pressure builds, the school slides deeper, sometimes stacking tight at 60–75 feet along the old river channel.

Wind direction matters more than most anglers realize. A steady breeze from the south or west pushes surface water toward the north shore and pulls slightly warmer water down on the lee side, compressing the thermocline and tightening the school into a narrow band. When the wind dies, the school spreads and you’ll need to cover more water to find them again.

Weather and Runoff Considerations

Because Sullivan sits at 2,600 feet, spring runoff comes later than in the Cascades, typically peaking in late May or early June. Dirty water from snowmelt and early-season rains can knock a week off the opener some years, so a flexible travel window helps. By July the lake clears, and you’ll often see 12–18 feet of visibility, a real asset when reading sonar arches and tracking the school.

That late-summer clarity sets up the trolling depth window where most anglers find success.

“Pro tip: check the Metaline Falls weather station the morning you launch. A 10-degree overnight drop usually pushes kokanee up 5–10 feet the next morning, often the best window of the trip.

Trolling Setup That Produces on This Lake

Standard landlocked sockeye trolling techniques work at Sullivan Lake, with downriggers and lead core line handling most of the work. A typical spread pairs two downrigger rods fishing 45 and 65 feet with a lead core or weighted line running higher in the water column to test the upper half of the school.

Trolling speed matters more than lure color at Sullivan. Target 1.0 to 1.4 mph on the GPS, then slow down to 0.9 mph once you mark fish but aren’t getting bit. That small adjustment often separates an empty rod from a bent one.

Rods, Reels, and Line Choices

A medium-light action rod in the 7 to 8.5 foot range gives you the soft tip needed for light kokanee bites while still pulling a flasher through 60 feet of water. Match it with a levelwind reel spooled with 30-pound braided mainline and a 15-pound mono leader, which pairs the low stretch of braid for downrigger depth reading with the shock absorption mono provides on the hook set.

Downrigger weights of 8 to 12 pounds are usually enough on Sullivan because the water isn’t moving. In heavy wind, step up to 15 pounds to hold the ball at depth without bouncing it across the bottom.

Lure Selection and Flasher Pairings

The standard Sullivan Lake trolling spread leans on dodger and flasher combinations, paired with hoochies, small spoons, and curlytail rigs in the classic kokanee color families. Pink, orange, and chartreuse dominate when fish are aggressive; white and blue take over when the bite gets finicky.

• ▸Dodger + hoochie: A 000 or 00 dodger paired with a wedding ring, micro squid, or small hoochie skirt in pink or orange, the workhorse Sullivan spread.
• ▸Flasher + lure: A 6-inch flasher behind a small spoon like a Dick Nite, Mack’s Wedding Ring, or Pee Wee wobbler for added flash and vibration at depth.
• ▸Wigglers and shoepeg corn: A single corn kernel tipped on a wiggler or small hoochie adds scent to the visual presentation, often the trigger in cold, deep water.
• ▸Curlytail grubs: 2- to 3-inch curlytail grubs in white or chartreuse fished behind a flasher produce on pressured fish that ignore other offerings.

Reading Sonar and Adjusting on the Fly

Sonar is non-negotiable at Sullivan because the school moves throughout the day and rarely holds in one spot for long. Mark arches at 50–70 feet in the morning, drop your downrigger balls to match, and watch for the line to narrow and tighten as you connect with the school. When you see arches but don’t get bit, vary speed and color before you change depth, since the school may be sitting just below or above your spread.

GPS track lines also matter. Once you hook a fish, mark the spot and circle back through it, then expand your pattern outward. The school is almost always grouped tightly, and one fish usually means more in the immediate area.

Licensing, Limits, and Keeping Current With WDFW

Every angler 15 and older needs a valid Washington State freshwater fishing license, and because Sullivan sits on the border, you’ll also want to confirm whether any combined freshwater endorsements apply for the current license year. WDFW updates the rules each April, and emergency rule changes can shift kokanee limits or close the lake without much warning.

Buy your license through the WDFW licensing system, at any Washington sporting goods store, or online the night before. The system emails a copy and stores a digital record that any conservation officer can scan.

Kokanee Bag and Size Limits Specific to Sullivan Lake

Rather than relying on Washington’s generous statewide kokanee limits, this Pend Oreille lake often operates under special regulations that tighten the bag or set a minimum size to protect the smaller-strain fish the hatchery produces. Always confirm the current year’s specific Sullivan Lake rule before you go, because the WDFW adjusts the lake’s regulations more often than most.

Regulation	Typical Sullivan Lake Rule	Why It Matters
Daily kokanee limit	5 fish (verify current year)	Often tighter than statewide to protect the run
Minimum size	None or 8 in (verify current year)	Encourages harvest of mature fish
Selective gear rules	May apply in spring	Limits trolling speed and bait before opener
License required	Yes, freshwater license	Check for combined endorsements if fishing multiple waters

Where to Confirm the Current Rules

Check the WDFW fishing regulation pamphlet every spring, pull the most recent Sullivan Lake fishing report kokanee update from the regional WDFW office, and review the emergency rules page the week of your trip. Those three sources together catch the majority of mid-season changes.

Ethical Harvest and Catch Handling

Keep kokanee in the 10–14 inch range for the best eating, and check gill color before releasing any fish. Bright silver with minimal tinting means an early-season fish in great condition; deeper red or dark gills signal a fish approaching the spawning phase, which makes for soft, oily meat. In warm surface water, bleed and ice kokanee within minutes of the net to lock in table quality.

“Warning: warm surface water above 70 degrees can stress kokanee fast. If you’re catching and releasing, get the fish back in under 30 seconds, and never lift it out of the water for photos in midsummer heat.

Getting There, Launching, and Setting Up Camp

From Spokane, take Highway 2 north to Highway 211 through Usk, then follow Sullivan Lake Road west of Metaline Falls until it drops into the state park. The drive runs about 2.5 hours without traffic, longer in winter when Highway 20 over Sherman Pass closes. Cell service drops out past the town of Metaline Falls, so download offline maps before you leave town.

The main boat launch inside Sullivan Lake State Park handles trailered boats with two lanes, a courtesy dock, and paved parking. Fees are modest, and the park office stocks current condition reports, which can save you a wasted trip on a blown-out wind day.

Camping and Lodging Options

Sullivan Lake State Park runs a first-come, first-served campground with tent and RV sites right on the water, plus a few yurts for those who want a roof without giving up the lake view. Sites fill by Friday afternoon in midsummer, so arriving Thursday or calling ahead helps lock in a spot.

• ▸That Park campground: 50+ sites, restrooms, potable water, lakeside access.
• ▸USFS sites around the Colville National Forest: Dispersed camping nearby for those with a self-contained rig.
• ▸Metaline Falls lodging: Small motels and a handful of vacation rentals for anglers who prefer a real bed.
• ▸Nearby restaurants and grocery: Limited but workable in Metaline Falls; bring specialty tackle from Spokane.

Shore Fishing Without a Boat

Without a boat, your realistic shot at Sullivan Lake kokanee is limited. The lake drops off fast from shore, and the schools suspend in 50+ feet of water well beyond casting range. A few anglers target the spring shallow bite from the public fishing pier near the campground, but summer success from shore is rare. If you’re traveling without a trailer, the smart move is renting a small boat or booking a guided half-day with one of the local Metaline Falls outfitters.

With launch logistics sorted, the focus shifts to stitching every prior detail into a workable day on the water.

Building a Practical Trip Plan From First Cast to Last

Two full days on Sullivan Lake covers the timing and water conditions needed to dial in a pattern. Day one focuses on locating the school and refining depth and speed. Day two locks in the productive zone and pushes for a full cooler before you head home.

Launch at first light and start by trolling the main lake basin south of the state park, where the old river channel bends and holds bait. Watch your sonar carefully for the first 30 minutes, marking the depth where arches appear. Most summer days that’s 50–70 feet.

Two- to Three-Day Sample Itinerary

• ▸Day 1 morning: Launch at sunrise, troll the south basin at 1.0–1.2 mph, mark the school, and dial in depth and color.
• ▸Day 1 evening: Drift the north shore points as the sun drops, switching to shallower 30–45 foot presentations for the dusk bite.
• ▸Day 2 morning: Return to the productive zone from the previous afternoon and work the school hard before boat traffic builds.
• ▸Day 2 midday: If the bite slows, switch colors, swap hoochies for spoons, or adjust dodger size to trigger reaction strikes.
• ▸Day 2 evening: Slow-troll the shoreline drop-off with lighter gear, then clean fish and ice them down before dark.

Gear Checklist for a Remote Lake Trip

• ▸Rigging: Downrigger, lead core line, dodgers, flashers, hoochies, shoepeg corn, terminal tackle, extra leaders.
• ▸Electronics: Quality sonar with a good transducer, GPS with lake maps, spare batteries and charging cables.
• ▸Boat essentials: Livewell or fish box with ice, net, pliers, hookouts, downrigger cable and release.
• ▸Personal items: Layered clothing for cool mornings and warm afternoons, rain jacket, sun protection, food and water for the day.

Common Mistakes That Cost Fish at Sullivan Lake

• ▸Trolling too fast: Sullivan’s kokanee almost always want 1.0–1.2 mph, not the 1.5 mph some anglers run out of habit.
• ▸Fishing too shallow: Spending the whole day at 30 feet when the school is stacked at 65 is the fastest way to get skunked in midsummer.
• ▸Ignoring wind direction: Wind stacks fish on a specific shore and shifts the productive zone, so adjust your pattern to match the breeze.
• ▸Skipping the sonar check: Trolling blind without watching arches means guessing at depth, so slow down and mark fish before committing to a spread.

Final Pre-Trip Checklist

• ▸License: Fresh Washington freshwater license in hand or downloaded to your phone.
• ▸Fuel: Top off the truck and the boat tank in Metaline Falls, the last reliable gas stop.
• ▸Weather: Check the regional forecast the night before and again at sunrise.
• ▸Regulations: Pull the current Sullivan Lake rules from the WDFW site and review bag, size, and gear restrictions.
• ▸Stocking report: Skim the latest WDFW kokanee stocking schedule to confirm the lake was planted that year.

Bottom Line

Sullivan Lake rewards anglers who plan for a remote, deep, lightly pressured kokanee fishery, not trophy-sized fish. A consistent stocking program, cold deep water, and minimal boat traffic make it one of the most reliable places in northeastern Washington to bend a rod on landlocked sockeye, provided you bring downriggers, lead core, and the patience to troll at the right speed. Match the seasonal thermocline, respect the current WDFW rules, and a two-day trip from Spokane is enough to put fresh kokanee on ice.

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