Cle Elum Lake Fishing
A 4,566-acre Washington lake in Kittitas County.
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Starting out on Cle Elum Lake
The Fish Washington layer gives Cle Elum Lake 4,566 acres; the water lies in Kittitas County. At around 2,227 feet, the climate on its banks follows the elevation. Cle Elum, about 8 miles away, is the closest Census place. Its WDFW management emphasis: trout-emphasis water. Its county sits in WDFW Region 3.
No launch on it appears in the WDFW or State Parks layers. For fishing without a boat there are 1 shore fishing site. The 2026-27 pamphlet lists 2 Special Rules here. The lake layer calls bank access good.
WDFW Fish Washington lake layers on geodataservices.wdfw.wa.gov (surface acres, elevation, management emphasis, shoreline access, species), USGS NHD outlines, Census 2023 places, retrieved October 31, 2026.
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Species WDFW ties to Cle Elum Lake, from its lake layer, records and plants:
WDFW Fish Washington species layers (presence, not abundance), WDFW records and the 2026 trout plant report; retrieved October 31, 2026.
Putting a boat on Cle Elum Lake
With no listed ramp at Cle Elum Lake, carry in a small boat or use a ramp nearby.
Bank access on Cle Elum Lake
- Robert & Anna Bell on Cle Elum Lakewater access area
Fallback launches for Cle Elum Lake
- Kinghorn Slough boat launch on Yakima RiverYakima River, 4 miles south
- Lake Easton launchLake Easton, 5 miles west
- Teanaway Junction boat launch on Yakima RiverYakima River, 13 miles southeast
WDFW Water Access Sites and Shore Fishing Sites layers (geodataservices.wdfw.wa.gov) and the Washington State Parks boat launch layer, retrieved October 31, 2026. A Discover Pass is needed to park at WDFW access sites and State Parks launches.
Forebay and gauge readings at Cle Elum Lake
USACE Northwestern Division water management data, CLE.Elev-Forebay.Inst.15Minutes.0.USBR-RAW, reading for October 31, 2026 PST, retrieved October 31, 2026; series datum not stated. Provisional.
Compare the timestamp before trusting any Cle Elum Lake reading.
Fish an angler can bag at Cle Elum Lake
| Species | Daily limit and size | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | No min. size in lakes, ponds, and reservoirs. Only largemouth bass less than 12" may be retained, except 1 over 17" may be retained. Daily limit 5. | Lakes, ponds, and reservoirs: year-round; rivers, streams and beaver ponds: Sat. before Memorial Day through Oct. 31 |
| Smallmouth Bass | No min. size in lakes, ponds, and reservoirs. Only 1 smallmouth bass over 14" may be retained. Daily limit 10. | Lakes, ponds, and reservoirs: year-round; rivers, streams and beaver ponds: Sat. before Memorial Day through Oct. 31 |
| Walleye | 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 |
| Channel Catfish | No min. size in lakes, ponds, and reservoirs. Daily limit 5. | Lakes, ponds, and reservoirs: year-round; rivers, streams and beaver ponds: Sat. before Memorial Day through Oct. 31 |
| Burbot (Freshwater Ling) | No min. size. Daily limit 5. | Lakes, ponds, and reservoirs: year-round; rivers, streams and beaver ponds: Sat. before Memorial Day through Oct. 31 (p.23 general rule for |
| Crappie, Northern Pikeminnow, Peamouth Chub, Perch, Suckers, Sunfish, | No min. size. No daily limit. | Lakes, ponds, and reservoirs: year-round; rivers, streams and beaver ponds: Sat. before Memorial Day through Oct. 31 |
| Grass Carp | Closed unless otherwise listed in Special Rules. | Closed |
| Kokanee | 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 |
| Whitefish | No min. size. Daily limit 15. | Lakes, ponds, and reservoirs: year-round; rivers, streams and beaver ponds: Sat. before Memorial Day through Oct. 31 (p.23 general rule for |
| Steelhead | Release all wild steelhead. Min. size 20". Daily limit 2. Open during salmon or game fish seasons unless as otherwise listed. | Open during salmon or game fish seasons unless as otherwise listed |
| Brown Trout, Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout, Golden Trout, Tiger Trout | In lakes, ponds, and reservoirs: No min. size. Daily limit 5. | Year-round (statewide lake season, p.23) |
| Trout (combined rivers and lakes same day) | The combined daily limit for an angler that fishes in both rivers and lakes on the same day is 5 trout, no more than 2 may be from rivers. | see the pamphlet |
| Lake Trout | No min. size. No daily limit. | Lakes, ponds, and reservoirs: year-round; rivers, streams and beaver ponds: Sat. before Memorial Day through Oct. 31 (p.23 general rule for |
| Eastern Brook Trout (EBT) | No min. size. No daily limit. | Lakes, ponds, and reservoirs: year-round; rivers, streams and beaver ponds: Sat. before Memorial Day through Oct. 31 (p.23 general rule for |
| Dolly Varden/Bull Trout | Closed unless otherwise listed in Special Rules. | Closed |
Statewide rows govern Cle Elum Lake unless the Special Rules band changes them.
Special rules printed for Cle Elum Lake
| Water as printed | Species | Rule and season |
|---|---|---|
| Cle Elum Lake: (Reservoir) | Kokanee | Closed. (Year-round) |
| Cle Elum Lake: (Reservoir) | Other game fish | Statewide min. size/daily limit. (Year-round) |
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 93 (pamphlet PDF), read on eRegulations October 31, 2026.
Anglers 16 and older need a Washington Freshwater license ($39.95 resident, $115.85 nonresident for 2026-27) or a Combination license; salmon, steelhead and sturgeon also take a catch record card.
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.
Nearby lakes set beside Cle Elum Lake
Anyone wanting more room can drive to Kachess Lake, 4,378 acres.
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Elevation | Launches | 2026 plants |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cle Elum Lake | 4,566 | 2,227 ft | 0 | 0 | |
| Lavender Lake | 4 miles southwest | 18 | 2,084 ft | 1 | 0 |
| Easton Ponds | 4 miles southwest | 16 | 2,139 ft | 0 | 0 |
| Lake Easton | 5 miles west | 205 | 2,184 ft | 1 | 0 |
| Kachess Lake | 8 miles northwest | 4,378 | 2,258 ft | 0 | 0 |
| Hanson – Upper Pond | 10 miles southeast | 12 | 1,884 ft | 0 | 0 |
WDFW Fish Washington lake layers, access layers and the 2026 trout plant report; retrieved October 31, 2026.
Near Cle Elum Lake
Neighbouring lakes to Cle Elum Lake
- Lavender Lake4 miles southwest
- Easton Ponds4 miles southwest
- Lake Easton5 miles west
- Kachess Lake8 miles northwest
- Hanson – Upper Pond10 miles southeast
Gear stores used by Cle Elum Lake anglers
- Pautzke Bait Cobait and tackle shop, Ellensburg
- Troutwater Fly Shopfly shop, Ellensburg
- Worley-Bugger Fly Cobait and tackle shop, Ellensburg
Guide services listed near Cle Elum Lake
- Togiak River Fishing Adventurescharter, Ellensburg, (509) 925-6606
- Worley Bugger Fly Cofly fishing guide, Ellensburg, (509) 962-2033
Lodging towns for anglers working Cle Elum Lake
- Cle Elum8 miles
- Leavenworth30 miles
- Ellensburg31 miles
Cle Elum Lake county by county
- Kittitas Countyseat: Ellensburg
Piscifun reels and line rigged for Cle Elum Lake
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The shoreline country around Cle Elum Lake, in pictures
Photo: Yakima Basin, Public domain
Photo: JamesInOregon, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Atomic Taco, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Gene Bisbee, CC BY 2.0
Before you drive to Cle Elum Lake: common questions
Where in Washington is Cle Elum Lake?
The WDFW point falls in Kittitas County, about 8 miles from Cle Elum.
What size does the Fish Washington layer give Cle Elum Lake?
Near 4,566 acres.
Which listed ramp suits a first trip to Cle Elum Lake?
Carry in a kayak, or tow to a nearby ramp.
Which gamefish are on record at Cle Elum Lake?
WDFW names rainbow trout, brown trout and brook trout.
Does WDFW print Special Rules of its own for Cle Elum Lake?
Brown Trout, Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout, Golden Trout, Tiger Trout: In lakes, ponds, and reservoirs: No min. size. Daily limit 5.; Year-round (statewide lake season, p.23). A 2026-27 Special Rule overrides part of that.
Do I need a Washington license to fish Cle Elum Lake?
Anglers 16 and older need a Washington Freshwater license ($39.95 resident, $115.85 nonresident for 2026-27) or a Combination license; salmon, steelhead and sturgeon also take a catch record card.
Were trout planted in Cle Elum Lake in 2026?
WDFW shows no 2026 plants for it through October 27.
Who sells worms and PowerBait near Cle Elum Lake?
Stop at Pautzke Bait Co in the same county.
Where can I check the level at Cle Elum Lake?
Above: the dated reading from USACE NWD water management (dataquery).
Plan a Cascades-to-coast trip around Cle Elum Lake
Check the daily limit before a fish goes on the stringer.