Photo of San Juan Islands: Bureau of Land Management, CC BY 2.0
Skagit County, Washington
The fishing picture across Skagit County, start to finish
Skagit County runs its county business from Mount Vernon, and the 2020 Census found 129,523 people living inside its lines. WDFW hatchery plants in this county are logged under WDFW Region 4 in the 2026 report. Hikers can aim for 62 lakes on the WDFW high lakes list.
Lake guides cover 15 waters totalling 4,723 acres; Lake Shannon is the largest of them. Salt water within the county belongs to Deception Pass, Hope Island, and Skagit Bay, East Juan de Fuca Strait, San Juan Islands and Deception Pass. WDFW SWIFD distribution data maps salmon or steelhead in Skagit River, North Fork Stillaguamish River, Baker River and South Fork Skagit River. Agency maps show 23 boat launches: 15 WDFW, 2 State Parks and 6 other agencies. WDFW maps 26 shore or access sites for bank anglers, 4 of them built piers.
15lake pages
23boat launches
11river pages
16shops listed
Census 2020 population; WDFW Fish Washington lake layers, WDFW facilities and State Parks launch layers (WDFW GIS); WDFW marine areas; retrieved October 31, 2026.
WDFW Fish Washington lowland and high lake layers (surface acres as published, management emphasis, mapped species); WDFW publishes no lake depths in these layers. Retrieved October 31, 2026.
Marine water
Marine areas and inlets that touch Skagit County
Count 8 marine areas and regional waters along Skagit County.
Dated NOAA ESI data (2003 to 2006) place 6 marinas along this shore.
WDFW Recreational Marine Areas (WAC 220-300-160 boundaries), WDFW and State Parks marine launches, WDFW piers and USGS GNIS bay names; retrieved October 31, 2026.
Species
Which fish WDFW ties to water near Skagit County
Within 50 miles of Mount Vernon, rainbow trout shows up on the most lake and marine pages.
Rainbow trout82 waters
Largemouth bass64 waters
Coastal cutthroat trout47 waters
Yellow perch34 waters
Brown bullhead24 waters
Black crappie20 waters
Pumpkinseed20 waters
Brook trout10 waters
Kokanee10 waters
Bluegill9 waters
Species mapped in the WDFW Fish Washington layers, WDFW state records and the 2026 WDFW trout plants, counted per water page within 50 miles; not a survey.
More water
More named lakes of Skagit County still without a page
Another 61 named lakes in Skagit County have too few published facts for a page of their own and are listed by size.
Water
Acres
WDFW program
Nearest town
Upper Jordan Lake
66
WDFW high lake, fish stocking
Darrington
Found Lake
63
WDFW high lake, overabundant lakes
Darrington
Hidden Lake
61
WDFW high lake, fish stocking
Darrington
Lower Falls Lake
60
WDFW high lake, fish stocking
Darrington
Cyclone Lake
55
WDFW high lake, fish stocking
Darrington
Lower Jordan Lake
52
WDFW high lake, fish stocking
Darrington
Whale Lake
45
WDFW high lake, fish stocking
Darrington
Itswoot Lake
37
WDFW high lake, fish stocking
Darrington
Monogram Lake
29
WDFW high lake, overabundant lakes
Darrington
Snowking Lake
26
WDFW high lake, fish stocking
Darrington
Clear Lake (Skagit County)
17
WDFW high lake, fish stocking
Darrington
Springsteen Lake
16
WDFW high lake, fish stocking
Sedro-Woolley
Heart Lake (Skagit County)
14
WDFW high lake, fish stocking
Sedro-Woolley
Skaro Lake
14
WDFW high lake, fish stocking
Darrington
Granite Lake
14
WDFW high lake, fish stocking
Darrington
Wing Lake
14
WDFW high lake, fish stocking
Darrington
Enjar Lake
12
WDFW high lake, fish stocking
Darrington
Texas Pond
11
WDFW high lake, fish stocking
Darrington
Lewis Lake
11
WDFW high lake, fish stocking
Darrington
Arrowhead Lake
10
WDFW high lake, overabundant lakes
Darrington
Cub Lake
10
WDFW high lake, fish stocking
Darrington
Long Gone Lake
10
WDFW high lake, fish stocking
Darrington
Sweetpea Lake
9
WDFW high lake, fish stocking
Darrington
Stag Lake
8
WDFW high lake, fish stocking
Darrington
Pear Lake
7
WDFW high lake, fish stocking
Darrington
Lake Kawkawak
7
WDFW high lake, fish stocking
Darrington
Myrtle Lake
7
WDFW high lake, fish stocking
Darrington
McGinnis Lake
6
WDFW high lake, fish stocking
Sedro-Woolley
Lake Louise
5
WDFW high lake, fish stocking
Darrington
Foss Lake
5
WDFW high lake, fish stocking
Darrington
Hidden Lake Tarn
4
WDFW high lake, fish stocking
Darrington
Alp Lake
4
WDFW high lake, fish stocking
Darrington
Horse Lake
4
WDFW high lake, fish stocking
Darrington
Shelf Lake
4
WDFW high lake, fish stocking
Darrington
Lake Stilwell
4
WDFW high lake, fish stocking
Darrington
Lake Tupso
4
WDFW high lake, fish stocking
Darrington
La Rush Lake
3
WDFW high lake, fish stocking
Darrington
Gee Point Lake
3
WDFW high lake, fish stocking
Darrington
Edgar Lake
3
WDFW high lake, fish stocking
Darrington
Bald Lake
3
WDFW high lake, fish stocking
Darrington
Cabinet Lake
3
WDFW high lake, fish stocking
Darrington
Prairie Mountain Upper Lake
3
WDFW high lake, fish stocking
Darrington
Splendor Lake
3
WDFW high lake, fish stocking
Darrington
Upper Josephins Lake
3
WDFW high lake, fish stocking
Sedro-Woolley
Howard Lake
2
WDFW high lake, fish stocking
Sedro-Woolley
Lower Josephine Lake
2
WDFW high lake, overabundant lakes
Sedro-Woolley
Gordon Lake
2
WDFW high lake, fish stocking
Big Lake
Hawkins Lake
2
WDFW high lake, fish stocking
Darrington
Hyas Lake
2
WDFW high lake, fish stocking
Darrington
Gee – Little Lake
2
WDFW high lake, overabundant lakes
Darrington
Buller Lake
2
WDFW high lake, fish stocking
Darrington
Bee Lake
2
WDFW high lake, fish stocking
Darrington
Wagner Lake
2
WDFW high lake, fish stocking
Big Lake
Kitling Lake
2
WDFW high lake, fish stocking
Darrington
Bear Lake (Skagit County)
1
WDFW high lake, fish stocking
Darrington
Fisher Peak Lake
1
WDFW high lake, fish stocking
Darrington
Long Gone Pot Lake
1
WDFW high lake, fish stocking
Darrington
Halfcan Lake
1
WDFW high lake, fish stocking
Darrington
McGinnis Pot Lake
1
WDFW high lake, fish stocking
Sedro-Woolley
Fly Lake
1
WDFW high lake, fish stocking
Darrington
Basin Lake
1
WDFW high lake, fish stocking
Darrington
WDFW Fish Washington lowland and high lake layers and USGS NHD lake outlines, retrieved October 31, 2026.
Rivers
Rivers, creeks and sloughs of Skagit County
Skagit RiverSWIFD lists chinook, chum and coho, 7 mapped launches, 3 WDFW shore or access sites, 11 USGS gauges, 124 mi in Washington
North Fork Stillaguamish RiverSWIFD lists chinook, chum and coho, 1 mapped launch, 4 WDFW shore or access sites, 1 USGS gauge, 50 mi in Washington
Baker RiverSWIFD lists chinook, chum and coho, 1 mapped launch, 2 USGS gauges, 35 mi in Washington
South Fork Skagit RiverSWIFD lists chinook, chum and coho, 1 mapped launch, 4 mi in Washington
Suiattle RiverSWIFD lists chinook, chum and coho, 48 mi in Washington
South Fork Nooksack RiverSWIFD lists chinook, chum and coho, 2 USGS gauges, 42 mi in Washington
Sauk RiverSWIFD lists chinook, chum and coho, 3 USGS gauges, 39 mi in Washington
Samish RiverSWIFD lists chinook, chum and coho, 2 WDFW shore or access sites, 1 USGS gauge, 30 mi in Washington
Cascade RiverSWIFD lists chinook, chum and coho, 1 USGS gauge, 19 mi in Washington
North Fork Skagit RiverSWIFD lists chinook, chum and coho, 2 WDFW shore or access sites, 7 mi in Washington
Segelsen Creek1 WDFW shore or access site, 6 mi in Washington
Skagit County creeks listed only here (10)
Childs Creek1 WDFW shore or access site, 4 mi in Washington
Gilligan Creek1 WDFW shore or access site, 6 mi in Washington
Loretta Creek1 WDFW shore or access site, 4 mi in Washington
Middle Fork Cascade River4 mi in Washington
North Branch North Fork Stillaguamish River5 mi in Washington
North Fork Cascade RiverSWIFD lists chinook, chum and coho, 6 mi in Washington
Pressentin Creek1 mapped launch, 7 mi in Washington
South Branch North Fork Stillaguamish River5 mi in Washington
South Fork Cascade RiverSWIFD lists chinook, chum and coho, 10 mi in Washington
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 11, 2026 7:33 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
USGS NHD flowlines and Washington lengths, WDFW SWIFD salmon and steelhead distribution, WDFW and State Parks launches, USGS gauges; retrieved October 31, 2026.
Stocking
The Skagit County trout plant log for 2026
So far in 2026 the WDFW report shows 19 plants into Skagit County water: 48,957 fish in 11 waters.
Heart Lake T35Rainbow, 97 fish at 0.8 per pound, May 29, 2026, Kendall Cr Hatchery
Heart Lake T35Rainbow, 1,235 fish at 1.8 per pound, May 29, 2026, Kendall Cr Hatchery
Caskey LakeRainbow, 510 fish at 1.7 per pound, May 19, 2026, Arlington Hatchery
Grandy LakeRainbow, 1,300 fish at 2 per pound, May 7, 2026, Whitehorse Pond
Northern State PondRainbow, 1,250 fish at 1.9 per pound, May 1, 2026, Kendall Cr Hatchery
Northern State PondRainbow, 75 fish at 0.5 per pound, May 1, 2026, Kendall Cr Hatchery
Sixteen LakeRainbow, 5,130 fish at 1.8 per pound, April 23, 2026, Arlington Hatchery
Lake McMurrayRainbow, 5,400 fish at 1.8 per pound, April 22, 2026, Arlington Hatchery
Lake McMurrayRainbow, 5,600 fish at 2 per pound, April 22, 2026, Arlington Hatchery
Lake ErieRainbow, 7,920 fish at 1.8 per pound, April 21, 2026, Arlington Hatchery
Clear Lake T34Rainbow, 2,160 fish at 2 per pound, April 21, 2026, Kendall Cr Hatchery
Pass CreekRainbow, 500 fish at 2 per pound, April 20, 2026, Kendall Cr Hatchery
WDFW Trout Plants report (rows January 2 to October 27, 2026), read October 31, 2026; newest plants first.
Access
Launches and shore sites listed for Skagit County
Baker River boat launchBaker River, WDFW, 1 ramp, unimproved surface surface, Discover Pass
Beaver Lake boat launchBeaver Lake, WDFW, 1 ramp, gravel surface, Discover Pass
Big Lake boat launchBig Lake, WDFW, 1 ramp, concrete surface, Discover Pass
Clear Lake boat launch (north)Clear Lake, WDFW, 1 ramp, concrete surface, Discover Pass
Edgewater Park boat launch on Skagit RiverSkagit River, City of Mount Vernon, 1 ramp, concrete surface
Faber Ferry boat launch on Skagit RiverSkagit River, WDFW, 2 ramps, concrete surface, Discover Pass
Hamilton boat launch on Skagit RiverSkagit River, WDFW, 1 ramp, concrete surface, Discover Pass
Lake Campbell boat launchLake Campbell, WDFW, 1 ramp, concrete surface, 2 hand launches, Discover Pass
Whistle Lake shore accessshore fishing site, 1/4 mile road provides access to shore fishing, may be limit
WDFW Facilities layer (boat launches, piers, shore sites) and the State Parks boat launch layer; retrieved October 31, 2026. Lanes and per-launch fees are not published in these layers.
Regulations
Fish an angler may bag across Skagit County
For Skagit County, check the statewide rows first and then the waters WDFW singles out. The Freshwater license is the base item here, $39.95 resident and $115.85 nonresident for the 2026-27 license year. Salmon and bottomfish trips on marine water take the $40.71 resident Saltwater license ($81.70 for nonresidents). The catch record card, issued with the license, logs every salmon, steelhead, sturgeon or halibut taken home.
Min. size 12" in lakes, ponds, and reservoirs. Daily limit 8. Only 1 over 22" may be retained. May be caught, retained, and released alive from a livewell until daily limit is in possession.
Lakes, ponds, and reservoirs: year-round; rivers, streams and beaver ponds: Sat. before Memorial Day through Oct. 31
No min. size. Daily limit 10. When fishing with bait, all kokanee that are lawful to possess and are equal to or greater than the minimum size are counted as part of the daily limit whether kept or released.
Lakes, ponds, and reservoirs: year-round; rivers, streams and beaver ponds: Sat. before Memorial Day through Oct. 31 (p.23 general rule for
Tiger Muskellunge (Tiger Muskie)
Min. size 50". Daily limit 1.
Lakes, ponds, and reservoirs: year-round; rivers, streams and beaver ponds: Sat. before Memorial Day through Oct. 31 (p.23 general rule for
Limits and seasons as printed in the 2026-2027 Washington Sport Fishing Rules (WDFW pamphlet, in effect July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027), PDF page 27 (pamphlet PDF; eRegulations statewide freshwater page), read October 31, 2026. Special Rules as printed in the 2026-2027 Washington Sport Fishing Rules (WDFW pamphlet, in effect July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027), pamphlet page 26 (pamphlet PDF), read on eRegulations October 31, 2026.
Records
Washington record fish tied to Skagit County
Species
Weight
Angler
Water
Date
Yellow Perch
2.75 lbs
Larry Benthien
Snelson's Slough, Skagit County
June 22, 1969
Whitespotted Greenling
1.00 lbs
Michael Peterson
Northeast Cypress Island, Skagit County
Sept. 24, 2021
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) sport fish records list, as of October 31, 2026.
Tournaments
Weigh-ins held on Skagit County water
Organizer pages list 2 Skagit County events and 0 lie ahead.
How many WDFW and park launches serve Skagit County?
23 launches on the layers (15 WDFW, 2 State Parks and 6 other agencies).
Which lake covers the most ground in Skagit County?
Lake Shannon, at 2,060 surface acres in the WDFW layer.
Which fish does WDFW map on water near Skagit County?
Rainbow trout lead the count of water pages within 50 miles, followed by largemouth bass, coastal cutthroat trout and yellow perch.
Which Skagit County stores keep jigs and leader?
16 in all, starting with Renee's Custom Rod building &Repair.
How many guide listings give a Skagit County city?
Guide listings name no city in the county.
Which Washington town holds the Skagit County county offices?
Mount Vernon is the seat.
How much does a visiting angler spend on a license in Skagit County?
The Freshwater license is the base item here, $39.95 resident and $115.85 nonresident for the 2026-27 license year. Salmon and bottomfish trips on marine water take the $40.71 resident Saltwater license ($81.70 for nonresidents).
What counties lie around Skagit County?
The nearest county pages are Whatcom County, Snohomish County and Island County.
Are tournaments or derbies held in Skagit County?
2 events on file from organizer pages, none with a date still ahead.
Do any Skagit County waters carry Special Rules?
The 2026-27 pamphlet prints 214 Special Rule entries touching this county, starting with Baker River; the table above shows the first ones.
Is there marine fishing in Skagit County?
Deception Pass, Hope Island, and Skagit Bay, East Juan de Fuca Strait, San Juan Islands and Deception Pass; the marine table above links each page.
Has Skagit County water put a fish on the WDFW list?
Yellow Perch, 2.75 lbs, from Snelson's Slough, Skagit County (June 22, 1969).
Does WDFW plant trout in Skagit County?
19 WDFW plants so far in 2026, 48,957 fish; the latest went into Heart Lake T35 on May 29, 2026.
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