Fishing Lakes In Manson, Washington

Manson is a small town in northern central Washington, located on the shores of Lake Chelan, a deep-water lake that feeds the Columbia River. In addition to the excellent fishing available at Lake Chelan itself, where anglers can catch trout right on the docks at the marina, four smaller lakes suitable for fishing dot the Manson area.

The Village of Manson

Manson is a small, rural town of a few thousand residents, about three-and-a-half hours east of Seattle. Surrounded by the stunning scenery of the northern Cascades, the cultural focus in Manson is on outdoor activities. Sited right on the edge of Lake Chelan, fishing is naturally a popular hobby. The town is best known for its spring Apple Blossom festival the second weekend of May, featuring a parade, art show, carnival and fun run.

Geography

Manson is located on the edge of the Cascade Range, and lakes in the area are fed by streams that get their start in those mountains. Much of the land west of Manson in protected; Mt. Baker National Forest, Lake Chelan National Recreation Area and Wenatchee National Forest are all a short distance away.

Lake Chelan

Lake Chelan is a narrow, 55-mile long lake which forms Manson's southern and eastern boundaries. The state of Washington's largest natural lake and the third deepest in the country, Lake Chelan is home to lake, rainbow and cutthroat trout, burbot, Kokanee and smallmouth bass. Anglers can pick up a fishing license at many of the shops in Manson or Chelan, or buy one in advance online at the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife website.

Other Lakes

In addition to Lake Chelan, four smaller lakes near Manson are also suitable for fishing. Dry Lake curves between Lake Chelan and Wapato Lake, and is home to largemouth bass, bluegill, yellow perch, brown bullheads and crappie. The abundant smaller fish make Dry Lake a good bet for fishing with the kids. Roses Lake is a great spot for quiet fishing with beautiful views of the Cascades. Expect to catch the rainbow trout, largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill or yellow perch stocked at Roses Lake. Antilon Lake is a man-made reservoir formed by an earthen dam. A dispersed-site campground sits on the edge of the lake, which is home to brown trout. Wapato Lake, located three miles north of Manson, is stocked with smallmouth bass, rainbow trout, bluegill and crappie. The Wapato Lake Campground at the southern end of the lake has 30 sites with restrooms, showers and docks.

Healthy Lifestyle

In addition to fishing, summer visitors to Manson enjoy biking on the low-traffic country roads, golfing at the nearby Lake Chelan Golf Course, and swimming, as well as winery tours. Winter snows bring a transition to cross-country and downhill skiing, snowboarding and snowshoeing. The Echo Valley Family Ski Area is a short drive from Manson, and operates on weekends throughout the winter.