Every Boat Ramp on Lake Washington

About Lake Washington

Lake Washington is the second largest natural lake in Washington State and the centerpiece of the Seattle metropolitan area, stretching 22 miles between the cities of Seattle and Bellevue in King County. With 22,138 acres of water, 65 miles of shoreline, and a maximum depth of 214 feet, this urban lake is connected to Puget Sound through the Lake Washington Ship Canal and Ballard Locks. Despite its heavily developed shoreline and urban setting, Lake Washington supports a remarkably healthy and diverse fishery that provides outstanding angling within minutes of downtown Seattle.

Smallmouth Bass are the lake's marquee warm-water species, with rocky shorelines, submerged rubble, and dock pilings holding strong populations of fish that regularly exceed 4 pounds. Largemouth Bass thrive in the weedy bays and around residential docks, while Yellow Perch provide reliable panfish action year-round. Cutthroat Trout cruise the lake's nearshore waters and can be targeted with light tackle, and the lake hosts one of the largest Sockeye Salmon runs in the lower 48 states, with hundreds of thousands of fish transiting through the Ship Canal each summer.

Boat launches are available at numerous parks along the lakeshore, including public facilities in Seattle, Bellevue, Kirkland, Kenmore, and Renton. The lake is easily accessible by car from anywhere in the greater Seattle area, and its calm, protected waters make it suitable for boats of all sizes. Whether you are casting for bass from a kayak, trolling for trout with a downrigger, or watching the Sockeye run from the Ballard Locks fish ladder, Lake Washington offers a uniquely urban fishing experience against the backdrop of the Cascade Range and Olympic Mountains.

Nearest towns: Seattle, Bellevue, Kirkland, Kenmore, Renton