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Washington Lacamas Lake Fishing: Species, Seasons, and Access
ByIMRAN
A 130-acre Clark County basin sits roughly 20 minutes east of Portland, drawing anglers to its quiet waters just outside Camas, Washington. The lake combines WDFW-stocked rainbow trout, kokanee salmon, largemouth and smallmouth bass, and panfish into one compact fishery, with Round Lake linked downstream through Lacamas Creek. Lacamas Park anchors public access for bank anglers, kayakers, and small-boat crews chasing a quick metro-area trip.
What follows covers the species on your hook, the WDFW rules that govern them, where to launch and cast from shore, and a season-by-season playbook for the best bite.
Lacamas Lake at a Glance
Roughly 130 surface acres straddle the Clark County line, with the main basin plunging past 60 feet deep enough to suspend trolling lines for hungry kokanee. Rocky points, timbered drop-offs, and shallow flats with seasonal vegetation break up the shoreline and hold fish through the year. Public access runs through Lacamas Park on the south end, where the city of Camas maintains a paved ramp, restrooms, and a long stretch of bank water.
The lake is fed by Lacamas Creek from the north, and that same creek connects downstream to Round Lake, a quieter 30-acre basin. That two-lake setup gives you two options within minutes: the bigger, more varied fishery of Lacamas and the low-pressure calm water of Round.
| Feature | Lacamas Lake | Round Lake |
|---|---|---|
| Surface area | ~130 acres | ~30 acres |
| Max depth | ~60+ feet | ~20 feet |
| Primary species | Trout, bass, kokanee, perch | Bass, panfish, holdover trout |
| Boat launch | Paved, multi-lane | Hand-launch only |
| Best suited for | Trollers, bank anglers, small boats | Kayaks, float tubes, small craft |
The Fish Species Anglers Pursue Here
Five species groups carry most of the pressure on Lacamas Lake, and each responds to a different technique and season. Your target species shapes everything from lure choice to launch time on any given trip.
Rainbow Trout and Kokanee Salmon
WDFW plants catchable rainbow trout each spring, usually starting in March and running into early June. Those fresh stockers hold in the upper 10 to 15 feet of the water column for the first few weeks, making them the top target for bank anglers drifting PowerBait or tossing small spoons from the rocky points. Holdover trout from previous plants survive in smaller numbers and stretch the bite into the shoulder seasons.
Kokanee salmon are the lake’s other coldwater draw. These landlocked sockeye suspend over the deeper basin once surface temperatures climb in late spring. Trollers running downriggers or leaded line at 30 to 50 feet pick up most of the action, while jigging vertically over schools with a small kokanee rig produces fish for patient anglers. A standard setup pairs a dodger or flasher with a small spinner or hoochie in pink, orange, or chartreuse.
Bass and Panfish
Largemouth bass push into the weed edges and timbered coves as the water warms, with the strongest bite running from late May through September. Soft plastics rigged Texas-style, weighted wacky rigs, and square-bill crankbaits along the rocky points cover most of the action. Smallmouth bass show up along the rockier stretches and respond to similar presentations worked a bit deeper.
Yellow perch, bluegill, and black crappie round out the light-tackle options and keep rods bent through the colder months when trout and bass slow down. Small jigs tipped with a piece of worm or a soft plastic under a slip bobber cover most panfish situations, especially over the deeper flats where schools suspend in winter.
Once you know what’s biting, the next step is making sure your license and gear match what the state actually requires.
Licenses, Limits, and the Rules That Apply on the Water
A valid Washington freshwater fishing license is required for anyone age 15 and older, and the license must be in your possession while fishing. Annual and combination licenses are available through the WDFW licensing system, and a catch-record card is required for any angler fishing for salmon or steelhead. Because Lacamas Creek flows toward the Columbia River system, check whether your trip places you on waters that require the Columbia River endorsement before you launch.
Before any trip, pull the current WDFW Fishing in Washington pamphlet for the specific season dates, size limits, and any emergency rule changes that affect the lake. Regulations shift, and the only safe assumption is the one you verified that morning.
Standard statewide rules govern most species in the lake, but a few specifics shape the trout program. Catchable trout carry a year-round season with a five-fish daily limit and an eight-inch minimum size. Selective gear rules apply to some Clark County waters, so check the special rules table for Lacamas before rigging up with bait.
- License required: Ages 15 and older must carry a valid Washington freshwater license.
- Trout daily limit: Five fish, eight-inch minimum size.
- Kokanee daily limit: Ten fish, no minimum size under current rules.
- Bass daily limit: Five fish, no minimum size, no catch restriction beyond the bag.
- Panfish daily limit: Twenty-five fish combined for perch, crappie, and bluegill.
- Discover Pass: Required to park at Lacamas Park unless you buy a daily permit on site.
Where to Launch, Park, and Fish From Shore
Lacamas Park anchors most of the public access on the lake, with a paved boat ramp usable at nearly all water levels and a courtesy dock that handles trailered boats in peak season. Parking fills early on opening weekend and through the late spring trout stocking, so an arrival before sunrise buys a spot and a shorter walk to the water.
Boat Launches and Hand-Launch Spots
The main Lacamas launch handles trailered boats up to about 20 feet without trouble. For kayaks, float tubes, and small jon boats, the Round Lake hand-launch sits a short drive around the corner and offers a quieter put-in with no trailer traffic. Paddling between the two lakes is possible through Lacamas Creek when water levels cooperate, though the channel narrows in places and may require a short portage at low water.
Bank Fishing Access
Bank anglers do well along the southern shoreline inside Lacamas Park, particularly near the swim area and the rocky point that extends out toward the dam. The northeast side of the lake has limited access through a few neighborhood street ends, but parking is tighter and signage varies. Most of the shoreline beyond the park is private, so staying within the public access areas keeps things simple.
Park entry requires a Discover Pass or a day-use permit purchased at the entrance station. Annual passes pay for themselves within a handful of trips if you fish Clark County lakes more than a few times a year.
A Season-by-Season Playbook for the Best Bite
Each season reshuffles where fish hold and which presentation works. The table below maps the strongest patterns to the calendar so you can plan a trip around the species you actually want to catch.
| Season | Top Species | Where to Look | Best Presentation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring (Mar–May) | Stocked rainbow trout | Upper 10–15 feet, near the launch | PowerBait, small spoons, marshmallow rigs |
| Early summer (Jun) | Kokanee, bass | Kokanee deep basin; bass at weed edges | Downrigger trolling; soft plastics along timber |
| Mid-summer (Jul–Aug) | Bass, perch, kokanee | Rocky points, deeper flats | Topwater at dawn; deep jigging for kokanee |
| Fall (Sep–Nov) | Bass, holdover trout, perch | Shorelines, creek inlets | Crankbaits, jerkbaits, small swimbaits |
| Winter (Dec–Feb) | Perch, bass, holdover trout | Deep flats, main basin | Vertical jigging, slow blade baits, tip-ups |
Spring Trout and Early Bass
Fresh stocker rainbows stay high in the water column for several weeks after each WDFW planting, and the simplest approach from shore is a sliding-sinker rig baited with PowerBait or a single salmon egg. Casting small spoons like a 1/8-ounce Kastmaster retrieves a few feet of flash before a pause and pulls reaction bites from fish that have seen a parade of bait-soaked hooks. Bass fishing picks up in late May as water temperatures push past 60 degrees and fish slide toward the shallows to spawn.
Summer Deep-Water Patterns
Kokanee are the deep-water specialists and demand the most specialized tackle. A downrigger or heavy leaded line gets your offering down to the 35 to 50 foot zone where schools hold once surface temps climb. Trolling speeds sit between 1.0 and 1.5 mph, and a dodger paired with a small hoochie or wedding ring spinner tipped with white shoepeg corn is the proven starter. Bass and perch fishing shifts to the weed edges and rocky points in early morning and late evening, with midday fishing slow until the sun drops.
Fall and Winter Tactics
Cooling water pulls bass and holdover trout into the shallows to chase bait, and a square-bill crankbait worked parallel to the rocky shoreline picks up aggressive fish through October. Perch schools bunch up on the deeper flats as the year ends, and a small jig tipped with a piece of worm fished vertically under a slip bobber produces steady action all winter. Patient anglers willing to slow down and work the lower water column can land fish every month of the year.
That year-round approach is exactly what sets the two lakes apart, and it shapes how a smart trip comes together.
Lacamas Lake vs. Round Lake, and a Trip Checklist Worth Saving
Round Lake sits just downstream of Lacamas through a short creek channel and offers a different fishing experience for the same drive. The smaller basin runs shallower, holds fewer kokanee, and rarely sees the weekend pressure that the main lake gets. Kayak anglers and float tubers often prefer Round for the calm water and the willingness of bass and panfish to bite on lighter gear, while trollers and bank anglers chasing the trout stocking usually stay on Lacamas.
When deciding which lake to fish, pick by species first. Trout stocking and kokanee trolling both favor Lacamas, while quiet panfish action and small-craft-friendly water favor Round Lake.
Pre-Trip Checklist
Run through the list below before each trip. The five-minute check has saved more than one trip from ending at the launch ramp with a forgotten license or a left-behind net.
- License and Discover Pass: Both stored in the same waterproof pouch in your bag.
- Current WDFW pamphlet: Pulled from the WDFW site that morning, not the cached version from last season.
- Tackle for the target species: Trout rigs, bass plastics, or kokanee downrigger gear staged and ready.
- Launch permit: Day-use permit purchased or annual pass displayed if parking inside Lacamas Park.
- Layered clothing: Mornings stay cool on the water even in July, so pack a windproof shell.
The Big Picture
Mix a stocked trout program, a real kokanee bite, and dependable bass and panfish action, and Lacamas Lake earns its spot as one of the most balanced small-water fisheries near Portland. Confirm the regulations, match your presentation to the season, and arrive early enough to park. A productive day on the water is well within reach.
FAQ
What kind of fish are in Lacamas Lake Washington?
Rainbow trout, largemouth and smallmouth bass, kokanee salmon, yellow perch, bluegill, and black crappie all live in the lake. WDFW stocks rainbow trout each spring, and the kokanee population provides a deep-water trolling opportunity through summer and into fall.
Do you need a fishing license to fish Lacamas Lake?
Yes. A valid Washington freshwater fishing license is required for anglers 15 and older. Catch-record cards are required for anyone fishing for salmon or steelhead, and a Discover Pass is required to park within Lacamas Park.
When is the best time to fish Lacamas Lake?
Spring and fall are the peak windows, with fresh stocker trout pushing the bite in April and May and aggressive bass and holdover trout feeding along the shallows in September and October. Winter rewards patient anglers with perch and slow-biting bass on the deeper flats.
Can you fish from shore at Lacamas Lake?
Yes, bank fishing is productive along the southern shoreline inside Lacamas Park, especially near the rocky point and the swim area. Most of the rest of the shoreline is private, so the park access covers the bulk of the public bank fishing opportunity.
Where do you launch a kayak at Lacamas Lake?
A short carry from the Round Lake hand-launch drops kayakers, float tubers, and other small craft into the water, followed by a brief portage or paddle up Lacamas Creek to the main lake. The paved Lacamas Park ramp also handles kayaks but is busier with trailered boats on weekends.
Is Lacamas Lake open for fishing year-round?
Open water persists in every season, and WDFW’s catchable trout program keeps fish coming through all twelve months of the calendar year. The fish are easier to locate in spring and fall, but winter perch and slow-biting bass keep the lake fishable even in the coldest months.
