Cast off the mundane and reel in the thrill! Snohomish County’s waterways are about to get you hooked on carefree angling adventures. With legendary rivers like the Snohomish itself that echo with salmon runs, crystal-clear lakes promising rising rainbows, and countless lakes teeming with life, our region overflows with chances to land those prize catches and unwind where the waters flow freely. Pack a lunch, prepare your tackle box, and let each ripple carry you away on an angling odyssey unlike any other in the Pacific Northwest! Here’s where to go fishing in Snohomish County.
Snohomish River: Where Salmon Dreams Run Deep
The Snohomish River isn’t just a waterway; it’s also a salmon superhighway! This confluence of the Skykomish and Snoqualmie rivers serves up Chinook, coho, pink salmon, and steelhead in a dramatic dance of fins and currents. Prime spots like Bob Herman Park and the Highway 522 Bridge offer epic bank access, while guided charters near Everett can put you on tide-chasing giants without the hassle of boat ownership.
Time your trip with the tide changes, two hours before high tide, for aggressive bites, and don’t overlook the Spencer Island sloughs, where cutthroat trout rise to dry flies like clockwork. Whether you’re drifting cured eggs for wary steelhead or tossing spinners into salmon-packed currents, this river delivers a dependable bite with every tug on the line.
Flowing Lake: A Smooth Sailing for All Anglers
Nicknamed “Three Lakes” (though we promise it’s just one!), Flowing Lake is a 135-acre gem near Monroe that’s literally stocked to the gills with non-stop angler action. Open year-round, it gets regularly restocked with thousands of feisty Rainbow Trout while its weedy edges hide lunker largemouth bass, some weighing as much as four pounds!
Fish it three ways: fly cast the shallows at dawn, slow-roll spinnerbaits through submerged timber, or bobber fish with the kids off the accessible docks. With amenities like ADA campsites, restrooms, and picnic areas, it’s a place where everyone can cast a line and enjoy the beauty of the Pacific Northwest.
Martha Lake Park: Paddle-Powered Angling in the City
A tranquil 61.6-acre urban oasis conveniently located between Lynnwood and Mill Creek, Martha Lake Park offers a peaceful escape where gasoline motors are not allowed, ensuring a quiet, paddle-powered angling experience. This serene lake is home to largemouth bass, rainbow trout, steelhead, bluegill, and chain pickerel, with excellent fishing conditions typically from May through September.
Anglers can choose between two spacious fishing piers and a shoreline that allows two-pole fishing, while wildlife watchers spy blue herons and osprey gliding overhead. Three ADA-compliant docks, including one with wheelchair-height railings and a sloped launch ramp, sit at the end of paved walkways, making every cast accessible. Add in a sandy swim beach, covered picnic shelters, and a winding wetland boardwalk, and you’re sure to be hooked on this angler oasis.
Gissberg Twin Lakes: Double the Fun, Double the Fish
For a truly unique angling experience, Gissberg Twin Lakes near Marysville offers “double the fun” across its two adjoining, man-made lakes nestled within a popular 44-acre park. These lakes are a fantastic, family-friendly destination, frequently stocked with Rainbow Trout and also home to Largemouth Bass and Bluegill, ensuring consistent action for anglers of all ages.
A standout feature is the North Lake, reserved explicitly for youth aged 14 and under, making it an ideal spot to introduce the next generation to the joys of fishing. With excellent accessibility, including a wheelchair ramp built in 2016, along with ample parking, picnic areas, and restrooms, Gissberg Twin Lakes ensures your biggest challenge is deciding on which lure to use first in pursuit of the perfect catch!
Blackmans Lake: The Urban Angler’s Hideout
Right in the heart of downtown Snohomish, Blackmans Lake combines ease of access with serious spring trout action, thanks to 7,000 rainbow and thousands of cutthroat stocked each April and October. With a WDFW boat ramp at Ferguson Park and ADA-accessible piers at Hill Park, this urban oasis serves anglers of all abilities chasing rainbows by day and largemouth bass by evening.
Feel like a pro fisherman as you tangle with fin-flipping carp or reel in a shimmering cutthroat against a backdrop of city lights. Best of all, you can be fishing within ten minutes of leaving Snohomish’s charming antique shops and cafes.
Lake Cassidy: Bountiful Blend of Bass and Browntails
A few minutes east of Marysville, Lake Cassidy offers 125 acres of mixed cold- and warm-water thrills with spring-stocked rainbows and resident cutthroats, bass, panfish, and even bullhead catfish lurking below. Launch from the well-maintained gravel ramp or stroll the Centennial Trail that runs along its eastern shoreline to the fishing pier, perfect for sunset casts among rustling reeds.
Two-pole fishing is allowed, so you can chase trout on one line and panfish on the other without missing a beat. From adrenaline-charged hook-sets to tranquil afternoons watching dragonflies skim the water, Lake Cassidy delivers a full spectrum of angling thrills.
Lake Stevens: A Big Catch in a Big Lake
Lake Stevens, Snohomish County’s largest natural lake at over 1,000 acres and 155 feet deep, is a year-round aquatic playground where big catches await. This popular spot, just east of Everett, is teeming with kokanee salmon, rainbow trout, and dominant populations of Largemouth and smallmouth bass, alongside yellow perch and brown bullhead catfish.
Shore-bound fishers will find line-friendly piers at Willard Wyatt Park, while boaters launch from three public ramps, and amenities like kayak rentals, lakeside trails, and restrooms keep comfort high. Plus, with mountainous reflections shimmering on the surface, the lake’s postcard-perfect scenery makes every catch even sweeter.
Snohomish County truly offers an angler’s paradise, where every cast holds the promise of adventure and every waterway tells a unique story. From the legendary salmon runs of the Snohomish River to the tranquil, accessible docks of Flowing Lake and the family-friendly fun of Gissberg Twin Lakes, there’s a perfect spot waiting to get one hooked. The region’s diverse aquatic environments, coupled with proactive conservation efforts and a commitment to accessibility, ensure that Snohomish County remains a premier destination for anglers of all skill levels. So, grab your gear, ensure compliance with current regulations, and prepare to make some unforgettable memories.
