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Washington lakes and reservoirs

Coldwater Lake Fishing

A 773-acre Washington lake in Cowlitz and Skamania counties.

Get driving directions

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Photo: Jeff Hollett, CC0 1.0

Skamania County

Getting to know Coldwater Lake

In Cowlitz and Skamania counties, Coldwater Lake measures 773 surface acres by the WDFW figure. The WDFW layer puts its surface near 2,494 feet above sea level. Groceries and fuel are closest in Morton, roughly 18 miles out. WDFW files it as trout-emphasis water. The county lies inside WDFW Region 5.

Neither WDFW nor State Parks lists a ramp on it. Statewide rules change here through 3 Special Rules. WDFW grades access from shore as good.

773surface acres

2,494 ftelevation

0launches

1species listed

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.

Directions to Coldwater Lake

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Species

Catches anglers expect on Coldwater Lake

Fish linked to Coldwater Lake in WDFW data:

Rainbow trout

WDFW Fish Washington species layers (presence, not abundance), WDFW records and the 2026 trout plant report; retrieved October 31, 2026.

Access

Boat ramps around Coldwater Lake

Coldwater Lake has no launch in the layers we use; nearby options follow.

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.

Limits

Washington limits for Coldwater 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

Start with the statewide table for Coldwater Lake; any Special Rule overrides it.

Rules that differ on Coldwater Lake

Water as printed	Species	Rule and season
Coldwater Lake: limited access available: contact National Volcanic Monument Headquarters 360-449-7800 or (360) 274-2114, for specific information	All species	Selective gear rules. Two-Pole not allowed. CLOSED WATERS – all inlet and outlet streams.
Coldwater Lake: limited access available: contact National Volcanic Monument Headquarters 360-449-7800 or (360) 274-2114, for specific information	Trout	Min. size 18". Daily limit 1. (Year-round)
Coldwater Lake: limited access available: contact National Volcanic Monument Headquarters 360-449-7800 or (360) 274-2114, for specific information	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 81 (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.

Washington licenses and limits Special Rules by water

Compare

Lakes around Coldwater Lake, side by side

The largest lake listed alongside is Riffe Lake at 11,326 acres.

Lake	Distance	Acres	Elevation
Coldwater Lake		773	2,494 ft
Castle Lake	4 miles southwest	258	2,594 ft
Island Lake (Skamania County)	5 miles northeast	9.5	4,824 ft
Riffe Lake	12 miles north	11,326	774 ft
Lake Scanewa	14 miles northeast	399	848 ft
Merrill Lake	15 miles south	283	1,524 ft

WDFW Fish Washington lake layers, access layers and the 2026 trout plant report; retrieved October 31, 2026.

Nearby

A few miles from Coldwater Lake

Nearby lakes worth a look from Coldwater Lake

Castle Lake4 miles southwest
Island Lake (Skamania County)5 miles northeast
Riffe Lake12 miles north
Lake Scanewa14 miles northeast
Merrill Lake15 miles south

Tackle and bait counters serving Coldwater Lake

Port of Kalamamarina, Kalama
Metro Tackle & Morebait and tackle shop, Kelso
Sportsman's Warehouse Kelsosporting goods store, Kelso
Black Heron Fly Fishingfly shop, Longview
Bob's Sporting Goodsbait and tackle shop, Longview
Harpers Tackle & Outdoorbait and tackle shop, Woodland

Paid fishing guides around Coldwater Lake

Columbia River Fishing Slayerfishing guide, Castle Rock, (360) 270-0641

Where to book a room for Coldwater Lake

Morton18 miles
Amboy29 miles
Yacolt31 miles

County guides for Coldwater Lake

Cowlitz Countyseat: Kelso
Skamania Countyseat: Stevenson

Piscifun

Piscifun gear a Cascades angler could bring to Coldwater Lake

Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.

Photos

Lakes, rivers and sound close to Coldwater Lake, pictured

Riffe Lake, Washington — Riffe Lake 12 mi
Photo: Allan Cronin, CC BY-SA 2.0

Lake Merwin, Washington — Lake Merwin 24 mi
Photo: Sam Beebe, CC BY 2.0

Lake Bonneville, Washington — Lake Bonneville 66 mi
Photo: Bonnie Moreland, Public domain

Battle Ground Lake, Washington — Battle Ground Lake 37 mi
Photo: David Burn, CC BY-SA 2.0

Answers

What people planning Coldwater Lake want to know

What part of the Evergreen State holds Coldwater Lake?

You will find it in Cowlitz and Skamania counties, about 18 miles from Morton.

How much surface does Coldwater Lake spread across in the WDFW layer?

About 773 surface acres.

Which listed launch sits closest to Coldwater Lake?

None appears in the access layers; see the ramps nearby.

What fish does WDFW list for Coldwater Lake?

On the list: rainbow trout.

What daily limit applies on Coldwater 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). Its own pamphlet lines are in the limits band.

Can a visitor from Idaho fish Coldwater Lake?