Sportsman Lake

On San Juan Island, 3.5 miles northwest of Friday Harbor. Open to fishing year-round. Good fishing for resident largemouth bass, yellow perch, and pumpkinseed sunfish during the summer. The WDFW access has a boat launch.

Two-pole fishing is allowed

Shoreline access: Good - Undeveloped shoreline.

Species you might catch

Lake information

County: San Juan
Acreage: 66.40 ac.
Elevation: 157 ft.
Center: 48.568147, -123.073639
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Fishing resources

Fishing prospects calendar

Largemouth 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.

Yellow perch

Yellow Perch can be caught year-round. Fishing is best in the summer after they finish spawning in April-May. Fish can be readily angled through the summer from both the shore and boat. Catch begins to decline in the fall as water temperatures cool and fish move offshore forcing anglers to pursue them in boats. Successful fishing for Yellow Perch in the winter involves either targeting schools in deep water from boats or through the ice.

Pumpkinseed Sunfish

Pumpkinseed Sunfish are ubiquitous in most lowland lakes and readily caught year-round. Fishing is best in the spring and summer, peaking during the spawn in June. Fish move offshore into deeper waters through the fall as water temperatures cool making it more difficult to target them. Winter is the most difficult season to catch Pumpkinseed, but persistent anglers can find nice-sized schools offshore.

Photos

Photo by WDFW