We already had a massive article about all of the better fishing spots across King County, but with this article, I wanted to focus more tightly on Bellevue and nearby Eastside communities such as Redmond and Kirkland.
For these locations, I decided to stick to the area east of Lake Washington, including not just Bellevue but everything from Woodinville in the north to Newcastle in the south.
For some of these lakes, we also have detailed guides to fishing just that location, so check out those links for your favorite nearby fishing holes.
For our original article that covers all King County fishing spots, as well as other more pinpointed articles about specific parts of this area, find the links below.
Cottage Lake
This park lake isn’t big, but it sure comes up big during the spring trout season.
Cottage Lake, in a residential area just north of Redmond and east of Woodinville, is a seasonal lake that starts fast for its late April opener. That’s because the lake is typically stocked ahead of time with something on the order of 11,000 keeper hatchery rainbow trout.
You might just catch a native cutthroat trout as well. And as the water warms, your odds fall off for trout but go up for warm water species such as largemouth bass and panfish, including yellow perch, black crappie, and bullhead catfish
There is a modest amount of bank fishing access at Cottage Lake Park, but a kayak or other small watercraft will give you a definite advantage in reaching more fish.
Be sure to read our more complete Guide to Cottage Lake Fishing.
Lake Boren
This small city park lake in Newcastle is most enthusiastically fished soon after WDFW stocks it with hatchery rainbow trout.
Annual plantings are most likely to occur in the mid-spring, say in late April or so.
Figuring at least 1,500 trout will be planted, it won’t take anglers too long to catch many of them in this 16-acre pond.
However, WDFW notes that there are some wild coastal cutthroat trout as well as warm water species such as largemouth bass, yellow perch, and brown bullhead catfish. While trout prefer cooler water, those latter species should provide action from mid-spring through summer and into the first weeks of fall before the bite tapers off.
The best place to start your fishing trip is at Lake Boren Park. Amenities there include a nice fishing pier.
Lake Sammamish
Bellevue’s eastside lake, Lake Sammamish, isn’t as large as Lake Washington but is still a giant and loaded with fishing options.
Wild cutthroat trout are a favorite here, especially in cooler weather, and this is also among Western Washington’s best lakes for smallmouth bass fishing when things warm up. Yellow perch lead the pack when it comes to panfish, and they are a tasty, mild-flavored fish that make a great meal if you can find a school of pan-sized perch.
Fall coho fishing might be an option as hatchery fish head south toward the mouth of Issaquah Creek in October and November. However, be sure to check for the latest regulations as salmon runs are notoriously fickle. Other types of salmon and steelhead are typically off-limits.
A good bit of the shoreline along Lake Sammamish is private property, so your best bet to get on the water is heading to Lake Sammamish State Park, a short drive to the southeast.
At this north of the lake, Idylwood Beach Park is a good place to start your fishing adventure. You’ll find bank access and a spot to launch your small watercraft.
We could go on, but we’ve already done that in our Complete Guide to Lake Sammamish Fishing.
Lake Washington
King County’s largest lake is also one of its most diverse fishing spots.
While this lake is not stocked with rainbow trout, Lake Washington is well known for its impressive population of wild coastal cutthroat trout.
Salmon can also make a showing in your landing net, particularly the landlocked sockeye salmon known as kokanee, as well as a fall run of coho salmon. Other salmon and steelhead also migrate through the lake to varying degrees, but harvesting those is not allowed.
For warmwater fishing, Lake Washington is on the map among bass anglers, with both largemouth and smallmouth bass reaching respectable sizes.
Panfish are another great fishery. Yellow perch are tasty and, when you find a school, can provide fast action. Black crappie are another schooling panfish in the lake, also known for great eating.
Enatai Beach Park and Newcastle Beach Park are some public spots with bank and pier fishing access on Bellevue’s shore of Lake Washington. Numerous other public parks, piers, boat launches, marinas and other access points dot the eastern shore of Lake Washington and around Mercer Island.
Be sure to check out our Complete Guide to Lake Washington Fishing. It includes strategies for each type of fishing as well as an impressive guide to bank and pier fishing and boat ramps.
Larsen Lake
This 10-acre peat lake is most often fished for warmwater species that include largemouth bass, black crappie, yellow perch, and bullhead catfish.
The lake may offer some opportunity to catch native coastal cutthroat trout, but it’s not stocked with hatchery rainbows and isn’t generally considered a great trout water.
Larsen Lake is in Larsen Lake Blueberry Farm, with public access off 148th Avenue SE.
There’s a trail from a small parking lot that loops along the entire shoreline (and one small dock) to provide bank fishing access. Weeds can grow up along the banks during the warmest months.
The Lake Hills Greenbelt continues on from Larsen Lake for a mile or so to Phantom Lake, our next entry.
Phantom Lake
This Bellevue lake isn’t stocked with trout, but it is managed for year-round resident fish, including largemouth bass.
Other fish you might catch at Phantom Lake include black crappie, yellow perch and brown bullhead catfish. Fishing for all of these warmwater species tends to pick up in the spring and continue strong through summer and into early fall.
Cold weather slows the bite for these types of fish.
You can reach fishing spots, including a dock and shoreline areas, from trails in Phantom Lake Loop, a public park off 156th Avenue SE. Boat launching is an option, but click the link for information about the permit to do so.
Washington Resources
WDFW Fishing and Stocking Reports
WDFW Fishing Regulations
National Weather Service forecasts