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Washington lakes and reservoirs

Silver Lake (Cowlitz County) Fishing

A 1,424-acre Washington lake in Cowlitz County.

Get driving directions

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Photo of Lake Merwin: Jesse Keating, CC BY-SA 2.0

Cowlitz County

Silver Lake (Cowlitz County): what to know first

WDFW lists Silver Lake (Cowlitz County) at 1,424 surface acres in Cowlitz County. The water lies at roughly 489 feet of elevation. Allow about 5 miles of driving to Castle Rock, the nearest town. Management on record is mixed-species water managed with a warmwater emphasis. For WDFW purposes the county is in WDFW Region 5.

The access layers show 1 launch on the water, 1 of them public. Anglers on foot get 3 shore fishing sites. Hatchery crews have put in 1 trout plant during 2026. Shore access, by WDFW: good.

1,424surface acres

489 ftelevation

1launches

12026 plants

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 Silver Lake

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Species

Which fish WDFW records in Silver Lake (Cowlitz County)

The WDFW layers, records and plant report name these fish at Silver Lake (Cowlitz County).

Rainbow trout Largemouth bass Brown bullhead Yellow perch Black crappie Pumpkinseed Bluegill Warmouth

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

Access

WDFW and park ramps on Silver Lake (Cowlitz County)

• Silver Lake boat launch (west)1 ramp, concrete surface, Discover Pass, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife

Casting from land at Silver Lake (Cowlitz County)

• Silver Lake fishing piershore fishing site, Boat ramp and fishing dock
• Silver Lake shore accessshore fishing site, 1000 feet of open shoreline along HWY 504, parking limited
• Silver Lake fishing pierfishing pier

Second-choice ramps close to Silver Lake (Cowlitz County)

• I-5 Bridge boat launch on Cowlitz RiverCowlitz River, 10 miles northwest
• Massey Bar boat launch on Cowlitz RiverCowlitz River, 12 miles north

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.

Stocking

2026 stocking at Silver Lake (Cowlitz County)

The 2026 plant report lists 1 release for Silver Lake (Cowlitz County) (2,000 fish), latest at the top.

• SILVER LakeRainbow, 2,000 fish at 2.7 per pound, January 2, 2026, Goldendale Hatchery

WDFW Trout Plants report (rows January 2 to October 27, 2026), read October 31, 2026.

Washington trout plants

Limits

Taking fish home from Silver Lake (Cowlitz County)

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 Silver Lake (Cowlitz County), read the statewide rows first and then the water-specific lines.

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

Records

Washington record book entries naming Silver Lake (Cowlitz County)

Species	Weight	Angler	Water as printed	Date
Warmouth	0.53 lbs	Linda Hatlelid	Silver Lake, Cowlitz County	May 27, 1996

WDFW sport fish records (freshwater and saltwater record lists, kept by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW)) as listed October 31, 2026. All Washington records.

Compare

Where Silver Lake (Cowlitz County) ranks among nearby water

Of the five closest Washington lakes with pages, Mayfield Lake has the most surface water at 2,022 acres.

Lake	Distance	Acres	Elevation	Launches	2026 plants
Silver Lake (Cowlitz County)		1,424	489 ft	1	1
South Lewis County Park Pond	10 miles north	14	93 ft	0	0
Lake Sacajawea	13 miles southwest	46	8 ft	0	8
Kress Lake	17 miles south	25	18 ft	1	4
Carlisle Lake	20 miles north	22	496 ft	0	8
Mayfield Lake	22 miles northeast	2,022	428 ft	0	23

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

Nearby

Just past Silver Lake (Cowlitz County)

Other lakes in the Silver Lake (Cowlitz County) area

• South Lewis County Park Pond10 miles north
• Lake Sacajawea13 miles southwest
• Kress Lake17 miles south
• Carlisle Lake20 miles north
• Mayfield Lake22 miles northeast

Grabbing bait and leader on the way to Silver Lake (Cowlitz County)

• Sportsman's Warehouse Kelsosporting goods store, Kelso, 12 miles
• Port of Kalamamarina, Kalama
• Metro Tackle & Morebait and tackle shop, Kelso
• Black Heron Fly Fishingfly shop, Longview
• Bob's Sporting Goodsbait and tackle shop, Longview
• Harpers Tackle & Outdoorbait and tackle shop, Woodland

Guides and charters for Silver Lake (Cowlitz County)

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

Overnight bases close to Silver Lake (Cowlitz County)

• Castle Rock5 miles
• Lexington9 miles
• Beacon Hill10 miles

Counties that touch Silver Lake (Cowlitz County)

• Cowlitz Countyseat: Kelso

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Fish photos

Fish worth recognising before a day at Silver Lake (Cowlitz County)

Answers

Silver Lake (Cowlitz County) questions with short answers

Which Washington town is closest to Silver Lake (Cowlitz County)?

WDFW maps it in Cowlitz County, about 5 miles from Castle Rock.

What acreage is on file for Silver Lake (Cowlitz County)?

WDFW lists 1,424 acres.

Does Silver Lake (Cowlitz County) have a public ramp in the WDFW or State Parks layers?

1 launch on file; try Silver Lake boat launch (west).

What can a Washington angler expect to hook in Silver Lake (Cowlitz County)?

Expect rainbow trout, largemouth bass, brown bullhead, yellow perch, black crappie, pumpkinseed and bluegill at the top of the WDFW list.

Which 2026-27 Washington rules apply on Silver Lake (Cowlitz County)?

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).

Which WDFW license do I carry on Silver Lake (Cowlitz County)?

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 Silver Lake (Cowlitz County) on the 2026 plant report?

Yes; the newest plant on file is Rainbow, 2,000 fish at 2.7 per pound, January 2, 2026, Goldendale Hatchery.

Where can I pick up PowerBait and leader before Silver Lake (Cowlitz County)?

Try Sportsman's Warehouse Kelso, about 12 miles away for bait and tackle.

What record fish came out of Silver Lake (Cowlitz County)?

Warmouth, 0.53 lbs, by Linda Hatlelid (May 27, 1996).

Pencil in a weekend on Silver Lake (Cowlitz County)

Read the Special Rules, then pick the ramp nearest your spot.

Washington licenses and limitsAll Washington lakes