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
Jun 5, 2003	Rainbow	270	2.7	WELLS HATCHERY
Jun 9, 2000	Rainbow	450	3	WELLS HATCHERY
Jun 12, 1998	Rainbow	420	0.88	WELLS HATCHERY

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.

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.

Photos

Photo by WDFW