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Washington · Fishing
Concrete, Washington sits in the upper Skagit Valley, and the fishing around town leans heavily toward alpine and subalpine lakes rather than the river itself.
6 spotsUpdated dailyFree to access
View on mapFishing · 6 spots
Concrete, Washington sits in the upper Skagit Valley, and the fishing around town leans heavily toward alpine and subalpine lakes rather than the river itself. The six lakes listed here — Freezeout Lake, Green Lake, Caskey Lake, Jerry Lakes, Thornton Lakes, and Watson Lakes — are all lake fisheries, which tells you something about the character of fishing in this area: expect hike-in access, smaller water, and the kind of solitude you won't find on more heavily pressured lowland lakes. Most of these lakes sit in the North Cascades foothills and require at least some trail time to reach, so this isn't a pull-up-and-cast situation. Trout are the primary target across these waters, and because several of them are at elevation, the season is compressed compared to lowland fishing — ice-out timing matters, and some lakes won't be fishable until late spring or early summer. If you're planning a trip specifically around fishing, it's worth building in flexibility around conditions rather than locking in a fixed date. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife regulations apply to all of these waters, and license requirements and any special rules should be confirmed on the WDFW website before you go.
All six lakes in this area are lake fisheries, and trout are the primary target. Species and stocking status vary by water body, so check the WDFW Fish Washington lake pages for each specific lake before your trip to see what's been stocked or what wild populations are present.
Most of these lakes require trail access rather than roadside fishing. Thornton Lakes and Watson Lakes in particular involve meaningful hikes on established trails. Check current trail conditions through the North Cascades National Park or Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest before heading out, especially early in the season when snow can still block access.
Thornton Lakes
~2 min drive
A worthwhile stop near WA.
Green Lake
~16 min drive
A worthwhile stop near WA.
Austera Lake
~19 min drive
A worthwhile stop near WA.
Watson Lakes
~23 min drive
A worthwhile stop near WA.
Lower Granite Lake
~26 min drive
A worthwhile stop near WA.
Jerry Lakes
~31 min drive
A worthwhile stop near WA.
Iceberg Lake
~38 min drive
A worthwhile stop near WA.
Pocket Lake
~39 min drive
A worthwhile stop near WA.
Caskey Lake
~40 min drive
A worthwhile stop near WA.
Freezeout Lake
~42 min drive
A worthwhile stop near WA.
Lake Toketie
~42 min drive
A worthwhile stop near WA.
Texas Pond
~44 min drive
A worthwhile stop near WA.
For the higher-elevation lakes like Thornton and Watson, late June through September is typically the most reliable window once snow has cleared the trails and ice has left the water. Lower lakes like Freezeout and Green Lake may open earlier in spring. Early morning fishing tends to be most productive on calm days when surface temperatures are cooler.
A light to medium spinning or fly rod works well for most of these lakes. Since you'll likely be hiking in, keep your kit compact — a small tackle box with spinners, PowerBait, and a few small lures covers most situations. If you're fly fishing, a 4- or 5-weight rod with a floating line and a selection of dry flies and nymphs is a solid choice for mountain lake trout.
Yes, a valid Washington State fishing license is required for anyone 15 and older. Some of these lakes may have special rules around gear type, catch limits, or seasonal closures, so look up each specific water body on the WDFW regulations page before you go rather than assuming standard statewide rules apply.
