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
Jun 21, 2000	Rainbow	2,967	2.68	BAKER LK HATCHERY
Jun 22, 1999	Rainbow	18,796	1.73	PS ENERGY SPAWNING
Jun 17, 1998	Rainbow	13,352	2	PS ENERGY SPAWNING
Jun 13, 1997	Rainbow	19,538	2	PS ENERGY SPAWNING
Jun 20, 1996	Rainbow	17,599	2.7	PS ENERGY SPAWNING
Jun 22, 1995	Rainbow	21,353	2.2	PS ENERGY SPAWNING

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.

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.