Waitts Lake Trout Fishing Washington: A Complete Angler’s

A quiet 130-acre lake in Stevens County, just south of the community of Waitts Lake, receives rainbow trout plants from WDFW each spring and often a second stocking in early fall, giving shore anglers and small-boat trollers a real shot at fresh stockers through the warm months. The lake sits at a low elevation south of the Canadian border, so it thaws early, clears fast, and produces some of the first open-water trout action in Northeast Washington. Kokanee, an occasional eastern brook trout, and even a stray tiger trout round out the menu, while largemouth bass and yellow perch keep things interesting between trout schools.

This guide walks you through the species in the lake, WDFW stocking patterns, the techniques and tackle that produce, where to launch and camp, and the rules that keep your trip legal.

Waitts Lake and Its Place in Stevens County

Roughly 130 surface acres of water spread across the basin just south of the small community of Waitts Lake, sitting between the Selkirk Mountains and the rolling timberland of Stevens County and a short drive from the larger Loon Lake. Its low elevation and relatively shallow basin mean ice-out arrives weeks earlier than at nearby mountain reservoirs, and the water column turns fishable while higher lakes remain frozen.

Shoreline ownership splits between private cabins and limited public parcels, and most of the public frontage sits along the north and east sides. Clarity tends to peak in late May and early June, before algae and pondweed push visibility down through midsummer. The result is a small, manageable fishery that rewards light pressure and tight timing on your trips.

Geographic Setting and Size

At about 130 acres with a maximum depth near 30 feet, Waitts Lake is well matched to a 14-foot aluminum boat, a pontoon, or a float tube. The compact size means you can cover the entire basin in a single morning of trolling, and a quick drift-tube session off the public launch puts you over most of the structure without burning fuel.

The surrounding country belongs to the Colville National Forest footprint, mixed with private timber parcels and small farms. That mix explains the patchwork of public access points and why the lake never feels crowded, even on opening weekend for you and other visiting anglers.

Why the Lake Produces Early-Season Trout

Low elevation and a short fetch mean surface temperatures climb quickly once the snowmelt stops. Cool spring inflows sink along the bottom and hold trout close to shore, where baitfish and the freshly planted WDFW stockers stack up. By the time warmer water spreads across the shallows in July, most of the spring plants have been caught or pushed toward deeper drop-offs near the old creek channel.

Feature	Waitts Lake
Surface area	~130 acres
Max depth	~30 feet
Elevation	Low (foothills)
Primary management	Rainbow trout put-and-take
Best clarity window	Late May through early July

Trout and Other Fish Species Swimming in Waitts Lake

Rainbow trout dominate the lake and account for nearly every WDFW stocking event. These are catchable-size fish, generally in the 10- to 14-inch range, with occasional holdovers pushing past 18 inches in years when winter survival stays high. A typical morning on the water will produce several fresh planters and the chance at one larger fish cruising the deeper shelf.

Beyond trout, the lake holds a thin but consistent population of kokanee (landlocked salmon) that respond to downriggers and small spoons fished deep. Yellow perch and largemouth bass round out the mix, and a few eastern brook trout or rare tiger trout have shown up in past WDFW survey work, likely traceable to historic plants or stray stockings from connected systems.

Rainbow Trout and the WDFW Plant Schedule

Washington’s Department of Fish and Wildlife operates the lake as a put-and-take rainbow trout fishery, so most of the catchable fish have been swimming in the basin for weeks rather than years. Catchable-size trout, usually eight to twelve inches, are trucked in from hatcheries on dates the agency posts in its annual trout stocking reports.

Targeted plants typically fall in April or early May, with a smaller follow-up drop in September. The September plants often go in just before water temperatures fall, and these fish tend to stay aggressive through the following spring if the winter stays mild.

Kokanee, Bass, and Surprise Visitors

Kokanee are present in low numbers and behave like their cousins elsewhere, holding between 20 and 35 feet during summer and wandering shallow to spawn in fall. Anglers who already own a downrigger can pick up a few by trolling small silver or pink spoons at the depth where the thermocline sits.

“Carry a small box of bass gear on every trip. Largemouth and yellow perch in Waitts Lake stack along the same weed edges where trout feed, and a 1/16-ounce jig tipped with a worm will catch any of them.

Reports of eastern brook trout and occasional tiger trout surface every few seasons. Tiger trout are a sterile hybrid that WDFW has stocked in other regional waters, so a stray catching a ride in a transport truck is the most likely source. Treat any brookie or tiger as a bonus fish rather than a planning target for your outing.

When WDFW Stocks Waitts Lake and How to Track Plant Dates

WDFW plants Waitts Lake with rainbow trout in spring and typically follows with a second batch in early fall. The spring drop is the main event and the one that drives the May and June bite, while the fall drop sets up overwintering holdovers for the following season.

Total annual plants usually run a few thousand fish, divided between fingerlings planted for growth and catchable-size trout ready to take a hook within days. The exact number shifts year to year based on hatchery production and statewide demand, so the only reliable source for a given season is the WDFW stocking report.

Reading the WDFW Stocking Report

WDFW publishes a searchable online report that lists each lake, the date of the most recent plant, the species, the number of fish, and their average size. Filter by Stevens County, sort by date, and you can see exactly when the last truck arrived.

Most anglers treat the report as a planning tool rather than a daily check. A trip scheduled two to three weeks after a listed plant date generally lines up with active fish, especially if the water has had time to clear and stabilize.

Timing the Bite Around the Plant

Newly planted trout tend to school tightly near the release point for the first week, then spread out as they key on natural food. The second and third weeks after a plant are the sweet spot for action: fish have recovered from the truck ride but have not yet learned to avoid the standard presentations you throw at them.

That post-stocking window of naive fish is exactly what WDFW’s planting schedule creates, so timing the trucks matters as much as lure choice.

Period	Typical Plant Window	Peak Bite
Early spring	Late April to early May	2–3 weeks after the plant
Early fall	Mid to late September	2–3 weeks after the plant
Winter	No scheduled plants	Fishing closes Oct 31

Techniques, Lures, and Bait That Produce at Waitts Lake

Trolling small spoons behind a leadcore line or at flat-line depth is the most consistent method for covering water and finding schools. A two- or three-rod spread at varied depths lets you dial in the level where the fish are holding, and the slow trolling pace keeps a 1/8- to 1/4-ounce wobbling spoon in the trout’s strike zone for long stretches.

Bank anglers do well with PowerBait dough, salmon eggs, or a chunk of worm fished under a slip bobber along the north and west shores in spring, where the morning sun warms the water first. Fly anglers stripping leech and woolly bugger patterns on intermediate sinking lines can pick up both trout and the occasional bass from a float tube or pontoon.

Trolling Rigs That Cover the Water Column

Leadcore line in two or three colors is the simplest way to reach the deeper schools once surface temperatures climb past 65°F. A small dodger or flasher trailed 18 to 24 inches ahead of a brass or chrome trolling spoon in the 1/8- to 1/4-ounce range is a classic Northeast Washington setup that translates directly to this lake.

Flat-line trolling with a single rod at 100 to 150 feet of line covers the top 10 feet and is most effective in the first hour after a plant or during the cooler months when fish are high in the water. Switch to leadcore or a downrigger once the fish push deeper in midsummer.

Shore Presentations for Bank Anglers

PowerBait fished on the bottom with a small egg sinker and a 4- to 6-foot leader is a reliable producer for first-timers and kids. Rig a second rod with a worm under a bobber set about two feet deep and drift it along any visible weed edge for a different shot at the same school.

• ▸PowerBait on bottom: Use a small treble or single egg hook, 4–6 pound test, and reel in only when the line moves sideways.
• ▸Worm under a bobber: Set the depth to half the water column in spring and adjust deeper as the lake warms.
• ▸Small spinners from the bank: Cast 1/16-ounce Panther Martins or Rooster Tails parallel to shore and retrieve slowly.
• ▸Woolly bugger on a fly rod: Strip a black or olive bugger on an intermediate line from any legal access point with a soft shoreline.

Fly and Light-Tackle Approaches

Intermediate sinking lines cover the top 15 feet and let you search the whole water column from a float tube. Cast a woolly bugger, leech pattern, or small baitfish imitation parallel to a drop-off, let it sink, and retrieve with slow strips and pauses.

Ultralight spinning gear with 4-pound test and a 1/16-ounce jig tipped with a soft-plastic grub will pick up trout, bass, and perch on the same drift. The light line lets you feel the subtle take of a stocker rainbow and adds a sporting edge to the put-and-take program for light-tackle anglers.

Access Points, Boat Launches, and Camping Near the Lake

The county maintains a small public launch on the south end of the lake that handles hand-launched craft and trailered aluminum boats without trouble. Ramp conditions can be soft in early spring before the water rises, so a four-wheel-drive vehicle is helpful on opening weekend.

Waitts Lake Resort sits on the south shore and offers cabins, moorage, and limited bank access for guests. The remaining shoreline is mostly private property, so paying attention to the public parcels on the north and east sides keeps you legal without burning goodwill with the cabin owners.

Boat Launch and Float Tube Access

The south-end launch is the only trailered boat ramp on the lake. A short walk down to the water puts you on the deepest part of the basin within a few minutes of motoring, and the north and west shores are a short troll away.

Float tubers and pontoon anglers can launch from the public access points on the north and east sides, where a soft shoreline makes carrying gear easy. Both spots are small and can fill up on opening weekend, so arriving early or fishing on a weekday keeps the launch simple.

Shoreline Fishing and Private Property Etiquette

Public fishing access points on the north and east sides give shore anglers a legal place to fish without trespassing. Look for the WDFW access signs and the small graveled parking areas that mark the public parcels. Stay within the marked boundaries, and you will stay out of any conversation with a cabin owner.

Even the best presentation falls flat without a valid license, and the rules around those public parcels are easier to misread than they look.

Access Type	Location	Best For
Trailered boat launch	South end (county ramp)	Aluminum boats, small outboards
Cabin and moorage	Waitts Lake Resort, south shore	Lodging, fuel, gear
Public bank access	North and east parcels	Shore anglers, float tubers
Closest developed campground	Lake Spokane, short drive south	RV and tent camping

Regulations, Licenses, and Smart Trip Planning

A valid Washington State freshwater fishing license is required for any angler 15 and older, and the combined freshwater-saltwater license covers all waters. Annual licenses run from April 1 through March 31, so a license bought in May covers the rest of that calendar year plus the early part of the next.

The general statewide trout season opens the Saturday before Memorial Day and runs through October 31, with special rules listed each year in the WDFW sport fishing pamphlet. Waitts Lake typically carries a five-trout daily limit with no minimum size, but the current year’s rules supersede any summary you read online or in a magazine.

License Options and Where to Buy

WDFW sells annual, short-term, and combination licenses through its licensing system, and most sporting goods stores in the region also stock them. A freshwater license runs cheaper than the combo and is enough for Waitts Lake, since the lake has no saltwater connection.

Kids under 15 fish free in Washington, which makes the lake a cheap family trip when you can put a worm in front of a young angler. Two-pole endorsements are also available if you want to run a second rod for bass while trolling for trout.

Special Rules and Smart Planning

Before driving up, check three sources: the WDFW stocking report for the most recent plant, the WDFW sport fishing rules for the current limit and any emergency changes, and the Loon Lake fishing report for a regional water temperature and catch-rate read. The Loon Lake creel census gives you a sense of how regional trout are biting even before you reach the ramp.

“Heads up: services in Stevens County are thin. Fuel up, grab a lunch, and confirm your launch plans before leaving the highway, especially in early spring when the resort may be on limited hours.

Pack layers even in July. The lake sits at a higher elevation than the surrounding farmland, and the morning fog can drop the air temperature 20 degrees before the sun burns it off. A light rain jacket and a thermos of coffee earn their space on every trip you take to the water.

Bottom Line

Waitts Lake rewards anglers who plan around WDFW stocking dates, fish light, and stay flexible on technique. The lake is small, the pressure is low, and the trout are fresh, so timing and presentation matter more than fancy gear. Pick a window two to three weeks after a plant, bring a trolling rod and a worm-and-bobber rig, and you will have a real shot at a full stringer of rainbow trout before the summer crowd shows up.

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