Baker Lake

Six miles northeast of Concrete. Open to fishing from the 4th Saturday in April to October 31. Fishing in this Baker River reservoir can be excellent for kokanee in April, May, and June and again in the fall. There is a six-inch minimum, 18-inch maximum size limit on trout and kokanee. An expanding sockeye population may provide frequent fishing opportunities in the future. The duration and timing of the sockeye fishery varies with in-season abundance. Baker Lake is closed to the taking of bull trout/Dolly Varden.

Additionally, a radius of 200 feet surrounding the pump discharge at the south end of the lake is closed to all fishing.

USFS Baker Lake / Middle Fork Nooksack  in the Mt. Baker National Recreation Area (NRA) is an impressive mountain landscape on the southeast flanks of Mt. Baker's slopes offers year-round recreational fun. Find fishing, boating, camping and other recreational activities information here. Private resorts are also available.

See the latest Sockeye salmon counts at the Baker River Trap.

Two-pole fishing is allowed

Shoreline access: Good - Excellent shoreline access; accessing kokanee and sockeye generally requires a boat.

Species you might catch

Lake information

County: Whatcom
Acreage: 4755.30 ac.
Elevation: 703 ft.
Center: 48.726836, -121.628304
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Fishing resources

Catchable fish plants
Release Location: BAKER LK (WHAT)
Stock Date Species Number Released Number of Fish Per Pound Facility
Aug 8, 2009 Rainbow 128 1.11 PS ENERGY SPAWNING
Aug 8, 2009 Rainbow 106 1.11 PS ENERGY SPAWNING
Aug 8, 2009 Rainbow 65 1.15 PS ENERGY SPAWNING
May 13, 2009 Rainbow 1,098 2.5 PS ENERGY SPAWNING
Jul 3, 2008 Rainbow 690 1.58 PS ENERGY SPAWNING
Jun 5, 2008 Rainbow 6,745 1.8 PS ENERGY SPAWNING
May 14, 2008 Rainbow 1,115 2.1 PS ENERGY SPAWNING
Jul 5, 2000 Rainbow 12,884 2.66 PS ENERGY SPAWNING
Jun 21, 2000 Rainbow 5,933 2.68 BAKER LK HATCHERY
Jun 21, 2000 Rainbow 3,933 2.68 BAKER LK HATCHERY
Visit the Catchable Trout Plants page for a more detailed search of trout plants in other bodies of water. To view and download the source data for this table visit the WDFW Fish Plants dataset on data.wa.gov.

Fishing prospects calendar

Rainbow trout

Fishing success for Rainbow Trout is generally best in the spring when thousands of fish are stocked statewide, but they can be caught year-round in most waters with a little patience and persistence. Success remains high into June and gradually declines as water temperatures increase and fish move offshore to stay cool. Fish that escaped the spring harvest return to the nearshore areas in the fall as waters cool off. Some waters may also be stocked again in the fall further boosting catch rates.
Chart showing fishing prospects throughout the calendar year

Kokanee

The Kokanee fishery typically lasts from April-October before the adults leave the lake to spawn in tributaries starting in late-October and early-November. Fishing is best in the spring before they move into deeper water to avoid warming water temperatures, but they can be targeted throughout the summer in deeper offshore areas near the thermocline. There may be a slight uptick in some waters in the fall as adults return to shallower water and move near shore towards spawning tributaries.
Chart of fishing prospects throughout the calendar year