Cooks Lake

Only about three miles northwest of Bead Lake, in Kaniksu National Forest at 3,075 feet elevation. Cooks Lake is open year-round and is stocked annually with Put-Grow-&-Take Rainbow Trout, plus a few Rainbow Trout broodstock.

To get there, find Forest Road 5015 off of Boswell Road. A USFS campground is located at this lake.

Two-pole fishing is allowed

Shoreline access: Good - Shoreline access is good around much of the lake.

Species you might catch

Rainbow trout

Lake information

County: Pend Oreille
Acreage: 7.20 ac.
Elevation: 3074 ft.
Center: 48.34329, -117.172458
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Fishing resources

Catchable fish plants

Release Location: COOKS LK (PEND)
Stock Date	Species	Number Released	Number of Fish Per Pound	Facility
May 1, 2023	Rainbow	350	0.33	SPOKANE HATCHERY
May 9, 2022	Rainbow	147	0.33	SPOKANE HATCHERY
May 4, 2022	Rainbow	250	0.33	SPOKANE HATCHERY
Apr 23, 2021	Rainbow	222	0.33	SPOKANE HATCHERY
May 7, 2020	Rainbow	249	0.3	SPOKANE HATCHERY
Apr 24, 2019	Rainbow	200	0.33	SPOKANE HATCHERY
May 21, 2018	Rainbow	500	2.8	FORD HATCHERY
May 7, 2018	Rainbow	100	0.25	SPOKANE HATCHERY
Apr 26, 2017	Rainbow	150	0.3	SPOKANE HATCHERY
Apr 15, 2016	Rainbow	200	0.25	SPOKANE 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.