Lake Shannon Fishing
A 2,060-acre Washington lake in Skagit and Whatcom counties.
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Lake Shannon: what to know first
WDFW lists Lake Shannon at 2,060 surface acres in Skagit and Whatcom counties. The water lies at roughly 407 feet of elevation. Allow about 22 miles of driving to Darrington, the nearest town. Management on record is trout-emphasis water. For WDFW purposes the county is in WDFW Region 4.
Its shoreline carries no launch in the access layers. WDFW names it in 3 Special Rules. Shore access, by WDFW: 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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The WDFW layers, records and plant report name these fish at Lake Shannon.
WDFW Fish Washington species layers (presence, not abundance), WDFW records and the 2026 trout plant report; retrieved October 31, 2026.
WDFW and park ramps on Lake Shannon
Boaters heading for Lake Shannon will find no ramp in the layers; check the closest ones below.
Second-choice ramps close to Lake Shannon
- Vogler Lake boat launchVogler Lake, 2 miles west
- Baker River boat launchBaker River, 2 miles south
- Faber Ferry boat launch on Skagit RiverSkagit River, 4 miles southeast
- Pressentin Ferry boat launchPressentin Creek, 6 miles southwest
- Hamilton boat launch on Skagit RiverSkagit River, 12 miles west
Bank and pier spots near Lake Shannon
- Barnaby Slough on Skagit RiverSkagit River, 9 miles
- Lyman Ferry on Loretta CreekLoretta Creek, 14 miles
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.
Water level at Lake Shannon
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Shannon At Concrete, Wa | 407.93 ft lake elevation | Nov 2 7:00 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 2, 2026 8:33 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
USACE Northwestern Division water management data, SHA.Elev-Forebay.Inst.1Hour.0.GOES-REV, reading for October 31, 2026 PST, retrieved October 31, 2026; series datum not stated. Provisional.
Readings for Lake Shannon are provisional until the agency reviews them.
Taking fish home from Lake Shannon
| 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 |
For Lake Shannon, read the statewide rows first and then the water-specific lines.
Water-specific rules for Lake Shannon
| Water as printed | Species | Rule and season |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Shannon | All species | Chumming permitted. |
| Lake Shannon | Kokanee | Min. size 8". Daily limit 10. (4th Sat. in Apr.-Oct. 31) |
| Lake Shannon | Other game fish | Statewide min. size/daily limit. (4th Sat. in Apr.-Oct. 31) |
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 88 (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.
Where Lake Shannon ranks among nearby water
Of the five closest Washington lakes with pages, Baker Lake has the most surface water at 4,755 acres.
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Elevation | Launches | 2026 plants |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Shannon | 2,060 | 407 ft | 0 | 0 | |
| Vogler Lake | 2 miles west | 15 | 1,067 ft | 1 | 1 |
| Grandy Lake | 3 miles west | 56 | 796 ft | 0 | 3 |
| Depression Lake | 7 miles north | 41 | 699 ft | 0 | 0 |
| Baker Lake | 12 miles northeast | 4,755 | 703 ft | 0 | 0 |
| Slide Lake | 20 miles southeast | 31 | 3,114 ft | 0 | 0 |
WDFW Fish Washington lake layers, access layers and the 2026 trout plant report; retrieved October 31, 2026.
Just past Lake Shannon
Other lakes in the Lake Shannon area
- Vogler Lake2 miles west
- Grandy Lake3 miles west
- Depression Lake7 miles north
- Baker Lake12 miles northeast
- Slide Lake20 miles southeast
Grabbing bait and leader on the way to Lake Shannon
- Cape Sante Marinamarina, Anacortes
- Fidalgo Marinamarina, Anacortes
- Harbor Landmarina, Anacortes
- Northwest Docksmarina, Anacortes
- Port of Anacortes, 100 Commercial Avemarina, Anacortes
- Pristine Marinemarina, Anacortes
Overnight bases close to Lake Shannon
- Darrington22 miles
- Sedro-Woolley23 miles
- Clear Lake24 miles
Counties that touch Lake Shannon
- Skagit Countyseat: Mount Vernon
- Whatcom Countyseat: Bellingham
Rods and reels from Piscifun ahead of a trip to Lake Shannon
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Fish worth recognising before a day at Lake Shannon
Photo: USFWS – Pacific Region, Public domain
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Photo: USFWS – Pacific Region, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Pengo, CC BY-SA 2.5
Lake Shannon questions with short answers
Which Washington town is closest to Lake Shannon?
WDFW maps it in Skagit and Whatcom counties, about 22 miles from Darrington.
What acreage is on file for Lake Shannon?
WDFW lists 2,060 acres.
Does Lake Shannon have a public ramp in the WDFW or State Parks layers?
The layers show no launch here.
What can a Washington angler expect to hook in Lake Shannon?
Expect brook trout, coastal cutthroat trout and kokanee at the top of the WDFW list.
Which 2026-27 Washington rules apply on Lake Shannon?
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). The pamphlet also prints Special Rules for this lake; see the limits band.
Which WDFW license do I carry on Lake Shannon?
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.
Is Lake Shannon on the 2026 plant report?
The 2026 plant report lists no plant for it through late October.
Where can I pick up PowerBait and leader before Lake Shannon?
Try Cape Sante Marina in the same county for bait and tackle.
What is the water level at Lake Shannon today?
USGS reports it; the value is in the level band.
Pencil in a weekend on Lake Shannon
Read the Special Rules, then pick the ramp nearest your spot.