Squalicum Lake

Main Species: Rainbow Trout incl. triploids, Cutthroat trout.
Sub Species: Brown Trout, Tiger trout
Size: Approx. 30 acres.
Public Access: Yes.
Boat Launch: No.
Bathrooms: Yes.
Opening Date: Open year round.
Closing date: Open year round.
Special Info: Fly Fishing Only. Motors prohibited.

Squalicum lake near Bellingham is considered a blue ribbon fly fishing only trout lake. It is stocked with Rainbow trout including a good amount of the larger one to one and a half pound Triploid trout in May. The lake is also stocked with Cutthroat trout and Tiger trout fry, which is a hybrid of Brown trout and Brook trout. With a little luck, fly fishermen have the chance to catch Brown trout, Rinbow trout, Cutthroat trout and Tiger trout all in the same day, with the potential for them to be in the 20 inch range. There is public walk in access off the Mt. Baker highway (542) and Y Rd. intersection. You can park your car and walk in to the lake but there is no shore fishing access due to dense vegetation so a flotation device like a float tube or boat is a must to fish this lake. The fishing here can be very good at times and very slow at other times. I’ve found that Leech patterns, Woolly buggers, and dry flies to imitate the various hatches work well. Squalicum lake is mostly shallow with a weedy bottom, so fishing sinking lines can often result in fouling up on lots of weeds. The regulations state that up to two fish may be retained daily, with no size limit. Catch and release is encouraged however to keep Squalicum Lake as good a fishery as possible for all. The launch area, where plenty of people leave their boats year round, is managed by a local Fly Fishing club who asks that you fill out a slip letting them know what species where caught and if any were retained.

Read the special rules and advisories at www.wdfw.wa.gov.

If you have fished this lake and have some information to add please email us at admin@fishwhatcom.com.