Bonaparte Lake

A very scenic lake located near Tonasket that provides a diverse year round fishery.  A USFS campground and private resort has camping, cabins, and boat launching facilities. Bonaparte is also a popular winter ice fishing lake.  Expect kokanee in the 10-12 inch range along with triploid eastern brook trout, tiger trout, and the occassional lake trout.  The state record tiger trout was captured in 2015.  Anglers are encouraged to remove as many smallmouth bass as the daily limit provides for in order to decrease their competition effects on the trout species.

Lead ban is in effect for Bonaparte.

Two-pole fishing is allowed

Good for ice fishing

Shoreline access: Good - Shore access is limited except within USFS campground area.

Species you might catch

Lake information

County: Okanogan
Acreage: 151.70 ac.
Elevation: 3556 ft.
Center: 48.80019, -119.054356
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Fishing resources

Catchable fish plants
Release Location: BONAPARTE LK (OKAN)
Stock Date Species Number Released Number of Fish Per Pound Facility
Oct 21, 2019 Rainbow 1,750 2.5 CHELAN HATCHERY
Oct 21, 2019 Rainbow 1,250 2.59 CHELAN HATCHERY
Jun 7, 2019 Rainbow 400 2 WELLS HATCHERY
May 22, 2019 Rainbow 200 1 WELLS HATCHERY
Nov 16, 2018 Rainbow 500 2.5 CHELAN HATCHERY
Nov 15, 2018 Rainbow 500 2.5 CHELAN HATCHERY
Jun 8, 2017 Rainbow 400 2.5 WELLS HATCHERY
Jun 8, 2017 Rainbow 250 1 WELLS HATCHERY
Oct 26, 2016 Rainbow 2,000 2.46 CHELAN HATCHERY
Jun 10, 2016 Rainbow 100 1 WELLS 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

Smallmouth bass

Fishing improves throughout the spring as waters warm and fish move onshore, peaking during the spawn. Summer is a slight lull though dawn/dusk hours can be very good. Catch improves in Fall as waters cool, vegetation begins to die back, and prey becomes more available. Winter is the hardest time because fish are offshore and slow moving.
Chart of fishing prospects throughout the calendar year

Photos
Bonaparte Lake
Photo by WDFW