Fishing near Kirkland, Washington
King County, population 92,175.
- 6 milesto nearest paged water
- 8launches nearby
Pick for troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo: skycaptaintwo, CC BY 2.0
Washington fishing from a Kirkland base
The 2020 Census counted 92,175 residents in Kirkland, a city of King County. Haller Lake lies about 6 miles west, nearer than any other lake or marine page. Top of the lake table on size is Lake Washington with 21,934 acres. Kenmore Bridge boat launch on Sammamish River is the nearest mapped launch at 4 miles.
About 10 miles away, Elliott Bay opens the marine options. Without a boat, Lake Washington fishing pier near Kirkland (north) is under a mile away. The nearest lake with a 2026 trout plant is Haller Lake, about 6 miles off.
Census 2020 population and Gazetteer point for Kirkland; miles are straight lines.
For the trout herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 Lakes closest to Kirkland, mile by mile
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Launches | WDFW program | Fish WDFW maps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haller Lake | 6 miles west | 14 | 0 | Mixed species – Trout emphasis | rainbow trout, largemouth bass, yellow perch |
| Green Lake (King County) | 6 miles west | 250 | 0 | Mixed species – Trout emphasis | rainbow trout, brown trout, largemouth bass |
| Cottage Lake | 7 miles northeast | 63 | 0 | Mixed species – Trout emphasis | rainbow trout, coastal cutthroat trout, largemouth bass |
| Lake Washington | 7 miles southwest | 21,934 | 0 | Mixed species – Trout emphasis | coastal cutthroat trout, kokanee, largemouth bass |
| Larsen Lake | 7 miles southeast | 10 | 0 | Warmwater emphasis | coastal cutthroat trout, largemouth bass, brown bullhead |
| Bitter Lake | 7 miles west | 16 | 0 | Mixed species – Trout emphasis | rainbow trout, largemouth bass, brown bullhead |
WDFW Fish Washington lowland and high lake layers (surface acres as published, management emphasis, mapped species); retrieved October 31, 2026.
Saltwater grounds nearest Kirkland
| Water | Kind | Distance | Launches | Piers and shore | Marine area |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elliott Bay | regional marine water | 10 miles southwest | 0 | 5 | 10 |
| Seattle-Bremerton (Marine Area 10) | WDFW marine area | 12 miles west | 3 | 22 | 10 |
| Port Gardner | regional marine water | 20 miles north | 1 | 3 | 8-2 |
| Possession Sound | regional marine water | 21 miles north | 0 | 4 | 8-2 |
| Sinclair Inlet | regional marine water | 23 miles southwest | 2 | 10 | 10 |
WDFW sells the 2026-27 Freshwater license for $39.95 to Washington residents and $115.85 to visitors 16 and up. Anglers working salt water buy the Saltwater license at $40.71 resident or $81.70 nonresident, unless a Combination license covers it.
WDFW Recreational Marine Areas, WDFW and State Parks marine launches, WDFW piers; retrieved October 31, 2026.
Flowing water around Kirkland
- Sammamish River4 miles, SWIFD lists chinook, coho and kokanee, 1 mapped launch, 14 mi in Washington
- Snoqualmie River10 miles, SWIFD lists chinook, chum and coho, 4 mapped launches, 3 USGS gauges, 43 mi in Washington
Stream discharge recorded near Kirkland
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Snoqualmie River At Duvall, Wa | 18.84 ft gage height | Nov 1 7:30 pm |
| Snohomish River Near Monroe, Wa | 2,130 cfs, 0.59 ft gage height | Nov 1 8:15 pm |
| Issaquah Creek Near Mouth Near Issaquah, Wa | 28 cfs, 3.88 ft gage height | Nov 1 8:15 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 1, 2026 8:33 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
USGS NHD flowlines, WDFW SWIFD salmon and steelhead distribution, WDFW and State Parks launches and USGS gauges; retrieved October 31, 2026.
Launch pins around Kirkland
- Kenmore Bridge boat launch on Sammamish RiverSammamish River, City of Kenmore, 4 miles
- Echo Lake boat launchEcho Lake, WDFW, 9 miles
- Devil's Lake boat launch on Lost (Devil’s) LakeLost (Devil’s) Lake, WDFW, 10 miles
- Taylor Landing on Snoqualmie RiverSnoqualmie River, agency not given, 11 miles
- Martha Lake boat launch on Martha Alderwood ManorMartha Alderwood Manor, WDFW, 11 miles
- Lake Sammamish launchLake Sammamish, State Parks, 11 miles
- Lake Sammamish launchLake Sammamish, State Parks, 11 miles
- Lake Sammamish launchLake Sammamish, State Parks, 11 miles
Shore fishing by Kirkland
- Lake Washington fishing pier near Kirkland (north)shore fishing site, Public pier over shallow water, weedy in the summer, under a mile
- Lake Washington fishing pier near Kirkland (east)shore fishing site, Public pier located outside swim area, under a mile
- Lake Washington fishing pier near Kirkland (south)shore fishing site, Public pier located next to boat ramp, 1 mile
- Lake Washington fishing piershore fishing site, Pier that provides pier fishing and moorage for the Argosy, 2 miles
- Lake Washington fishing piershore fishing site, Public pier located just south of Anthony's restaurant, 2 miles
- Lake Washington fishing piershore fishing site, Public pier offers good fishing in the summer, can be crowde, 2 miles
WDFW Facilities layer and the State Parks boat launch layer; retrieved October 31, 2026.
WDFW plants a drive from Kirkland
| Lake | Distance | Latest 2026 plant |
|---|---|---|
| Haller Lake | 6 miles | Rainbow, 1,200 fish at 2 per pound, April 27, 2026, Whitehorse Pond |
| Green Lake (King County) | 6 miles | Rainbow, 1,632 fish at 0.85 per pound, October 13, 2026, Whitehorse Pond |
| Cottage Lake | 7 miles | Rainbow, 5,000 fish at 2 per pound, April 14, 2026, Whitehorse Pond |
| Bitter Lake | 7 miles | Rainbow, 1,400 fish at 2 per pound, April 27, 2026, Whitehorse Pond |
WDFW hatcheries truck catchable trout to these lakes; the row shows the newest plant on record.
WDFW Trout Plants report (rows January 2 to October 27, 2026), read October 31, 2026.
Where Kirkland anglers pick up gear and guides
Washington shops handiest to Kirkland
- Dick's Sporting Goods Seattlesporting goods store, Seattle, 6 miles
- Dick's Sporting Goods Bellevuesporting goods store, Bellevue, 6 miles
- Dick's Sporting Goods Issaquahsporting goods store, Issaquah, 14 miles
- Sportsman's Warehouse Everettsporting goods store, Everett, 15 miles
- Angle Maidenbait and tackle shop, Auburn
- Tow Boat Seattlemarina, Auburn
- Bellevue Marinasmarina, Bellevue
- Brandt's Landing Marinamarina, Bellevue
Booking a skipper near Kirkland
- Adventure Charterscharter, Seattle, (206) 789-8245
- Digital Anglerscharter, Redmond, (206) 819-7010
- Emerald Water Anglerscharter, Seattle, (206) 708-7250
- Fish Finders Private Charterscharter, Seattle, (206) 632-2611
- Screaminreels Guide Servicecharter, Duvall, (206) 849-2574
- Tight Lines Sports Fishingcharter, Des Moines, (206) 715-0879
Yellow Pages and chain store listings (miles only for shops with an exact point), guide and charter listings; retrieved October 31, 2026.
Bass, walleye and salmon events near Kirkland
| Date | Event | Water | Organizer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug. 7, 2027 | annual salmon derby | Puget Sound | Puget Sound Anglers, Gig Harbor & Tacoma chapter |
| Sept. 12, 2026 | Edmonds Coho Derby | Puget Sound | Edmonds Coho Derby |
| not printed | club's 30th annual derby | Puget Sound | Puget Sound Anglers, Gig Harbor & Tacoma chapter |
Organizer schedule and results pages for events in King County or within 20 miles, checked November 2026.
WDFW record list entries close to Kirkland
| Species | Weight | Water | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Crappie | 4.50 lbs | Lake Washington | May 1, 1956 |
| Sockeye Salmon | 10.63 lbs | Lake Washington | July 20, 1982 |
| Black Bullhead | 1.81 lbs | Cassidy Lake | Sept. 4, 2020 |
| Largemouth Bass | 12.53 lbs | Bosworth Lake | Aug. 8, 2016 |
| Atlantic Salmon, sea-run | 14.38 lbs | Green River (King County) | Sept. 22, 1999 |
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) sport fish records list, as of October 31, 2026. Waters within 40 miles.
What a Kirkland angler may keep
Anyone 16 or older needs a Washington Freshwater license, priced at $39.95 for residents and $115.85 for nonresidents in 2026-27. Fishing the salt side means a Saltwater license, $40.71 for Washingtonians and $81.70 for visitors, or a Combination license. Salmon, steelhead, sturgeon and halibut also need a free catch record card, filled in as each fish is kept.
| Species | Limit | 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 |
| Largemouth Bass | No size restriction/daily limit in rivers, streams, and beaver ponds. | 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 |
| Smallmouth Bass | No size restriction/daily limit in rivers, streams, and beaver ponds. | 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 |
| Walleye | No size restriction/daily limit in rivers, streams, and beaver ponds. | 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 |
| Channel Catfish | No min. size/daily limit in rivers, streams, and beaver ponds. | 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 rivers, streams, and beaver ponds: Min. size 8". Daily limit 2. | Sat. before Memorial Day-Oct. 31 (statewide river season, p.23) |
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. Lake, river and marine pages print any Special Rule or marine area table.
Next-door places for Kirkland anglers
Sleep-over towns circling Kirkland
- Yarrow Point4 miles
- Kenmore4 miles
- Redmond4 miles
- Clyde Hill5 miles
- Woodinville5 miles
The county page covering Kirkland
- King Countyseat: Seattle
Piscifun tackle sorted for the drive to Kirkland
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Photographs of fishing water around Kirkland
Photo: ElTico68, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Terry Ott, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Doug Kerr, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: KurtClark, CC BY 2.0
Fishing day trips out of Kirkland, answered
Can Kirkland anglers reach a lake in a short drive?
Haller Lake, 6 miles west.
Which mapped launch is nearest Kirkland?
Closest: Kenmore Bridge boat launch on Sammamish River, 4 miles.
Which WDFW pier or shore site serves Kirkland?
Lake Washington fishing pier near Kirkland (north), under a mile out.
Can Kirkland anglers buy bait on the way out?
Dick's Sporting Goods Seattle lists a store 6 miles from the town point.
Which county is Kirkland part of?
King County covers it.
Does a visitor to Kirkland need a Washington license?
WDFW charges $115.85 for the nonresident Freshwater license. Marine trips add the Saltwater license or call for a Combination license.
Which lake near Kirkland has the most WDFW acres?
Lake Washington covers 21,934 acres and sits 7 miles out.
Which Washington town guides neighbour Kirkland?
Yarrow Point (4 miles), Kenmore (4 miles) and Redmond (4 miles) lie closest.
Which marine water is closest to Kirkland?
Elliott Bay, regional marine water, about 10 miles away.
Do any derbies launch close to Kirkland?
3 events on file; next is annual salmon derby on Puget Sound, Aug. 7, 2027.
Which WDFW records were set on water near Kirkland?
Black Crappie, 4.50 lbs, from Lake Washington, King County.
How far is Kirkland from a planted lake?
Haller Lake, 6 miles away, is the closest lake with a 2026 WDFW plant.
Leave Kirkland at first light with rods
Open a ramp for its agency and directions.