Lincoln County, located a short trip west of Spokane in Eastern Washington, is known more for growing wheat than fish, but there are some great fishing lakes here you don’t want to overlook.
The big, rural county has one of the lowest population densities in Washington, with a little over 10,000 people, some of whom live in communities such as Davenport, Harrington and Sprague.
If you take a break from fishing, things to see include the Inland NW Rail Museum, Fort Spokane, Porcupine Bay and Lake Roosevelt Recreation Area, as well as the historic ghost towns of Fishtrap and Govan.
But you’re here for the fishing, so let’s look at the best spots in the county.
Also check out the “Fishing in Neighboring Counties” feature at the bottom of this articles that quickly connects you to much more fishing across county lines in every direction.
Coffeepot Lake
This decent-sized lake is best known for its rainbow trout fishing, especially among fly anglers because the lake has selective gear restrictions that don’t allow bait or barbed hooks.
Coffee Pot Lake is stocked with several thousand younger rainbow trout each year, but you won’t take many home with a very restrictive bag limit.
It opens on March 1 and fishes best in the spring and early summer.
Coffeepot Lake also offers fishing for yellow perch, black crappie and largemouth bass. There is a special bag limit on the crappie as well.
This lake has a BLM boat ramp and campground.
It is located about a half hour southwest of Davenport and about an hour and 15 minutes from Spokane.
Cottonwood Creek
This year-round creek flowing through Davenport is stocked with a smallish number of young triploid rainbow trout each spring, and those fish grow in the stream.
Cottonwood Creek Rearing Pond is located near Davenport in Anatone.
Crab Creek (Upper)
The county’s major stream system in spots can offer some pretty good brown trout fishing, especially in the spring and fall.
There also are some other trout species around but the creek is no longer listed on the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s stocking schedules.
Deer Springs Lake
Deer Springs Lake is stocked with rainbow and brown trout as young fish that grow to catchable sizes.
The 60-acre lake, sometimes known as Deer Lake, also has decent numbers of largemouth bass and panfish.
Boaters may launch small craft by hand using extreme caution. Limited shoreline access is available on the north end.
Fishtrap Lake
Fishtrap Lake is most commonly fished for rainbow trout, which are planted in large numbers in the spring.
The open season is from late April through the end of October.
Fishtrap Lake is nearly 200 acres in size and about 15 minutes northeast of Sprague.
There is limited shoreline fishing at the WDFW access area. Anglers typically fish from a boat or from the docks of Fishtrap Lake Resort at the northernmost end of the lake.
Fourth of July Lake
Fourth of July Lake is a popular destination for ice fishing, as its only open from the Friday after Thanksgiving through March 31.
The lake is annually stocked with some 80,000 young rainbow trout.
This is a rich lake and rainbows over 20 inches are not uncommon and provide plenty of action.
Internal combustion engines are not allowed.
Anglers can often find open water conditions during the months of December and March, and fly anglers who don’t mind the cold might do well at Fourth of July Lake in those “shoulder” seasons.
There is plenty of shoreline fishing access at this 100-plus acre lake during open water conditions.
When the lake is frozen and safe, ice fishing opportunities are lake-wide. Please check ice conditions prior to ice fishing.
Fourth of July Lake is located about 10 minutes south of Sprague.
Pacific Lake
Thousands of young rainbow trout are stocked to grow into catchables in the spring and again in fall.
Pacific Lake is 120 acres with a year-round fishing season.
There is no good shoreline access at Pacic Lake though boat launching is available through the Bureau of Land Management water access.
Pacific Lake is located about 15 minutes north of Odessa.
Roosevelt, Lake
The lower section of Washington’s largest lake borders Lincoln County’s northern boundary.
Roosevelt Lake, a massive Columbia River reservoir, has wide-ranging fisheries to match.
Multiple species of trout as well as kokanee are found here, while warmwater enthusiasts catch smallmouth and largemouth bass, walleye and various panfish.
Burbot and a relatively new hatchery supported sturgeon fishery are among the many options here.
More: Lake Roosevelt Fishing
Sprague Lake
This large lake would probably have a bigger reputation among anglers if it were closer to many of them.
Sprague Lake borders the south side of I-90 provides good fishing for large rainbow trout, largemouth bass, bluegill and both brown bullhead and channel catfish.
The regulations allow anglers to harvest five trout of any size daily. The lake is open year round, however areas of the lake are closed during certain parts of the year.
Sprague Lake is located on the border between Lincoln and Adams counties, about 10 minutes southwest of the city of Sprague.
Shoreline fishing is located at the WDFW access area and at two resorts on the lake.
More: Sprague Lake Fishing
Upper Twin Lake
Upper Twin Lake in the Lake Creek drainage is stocked with rainbow trout (both catchables and younger fish).
The lake also has populations of largemouth bass and black crappie.
BLM provides a boat launch and there is shoreline access at the launch and from a lakeside trail.
Upper Twin Lake is is about 20 miles southeast of Davenport.
Lower Twin Lake is primarily managed for warmwater game fish.
Z Lake
Z Lake is a popular walk-in rainbow trout location on the WDFW Swanson Lakes Wildlife Area.
If you want a fishery that takes some work to find and reach but may reward you with good-sized trout, Z Lake is a good bet.
Once you get there, shoreline fishing access is optimal to this walk-in lake.
It will take you a little over a half hour to drive to the refuge from Davenport.
Fishing in Neighboring Counties
Ferry County: to the north, Curlew Lake has a variety of fish species including tiger muskies, and other lakes and streams here are loaded with trout.
Stevens County: to the northeast, includes access to Lake Roosevelt, which has enough room to host almost every popular freshwater fish species in Washington, plus a variety of other lakes with great fishing.
Spokane County: to the east, don’t let the presence of one of Washington’s largest cities fool you, because this county is loaded with trout, bass and other popular game fish.
Whitman County: to the southeast, the home of the main Washington State University campus has some interesting fishing options, including Rock Lake and a fishy section of the Snake River.
Grant and Adams Counties: To the south and west, an incredible concentration of waters rich with trout, bass, walleye and more around Moses Lake.
Okanogan County: To the northwest, the state’s largest county is loaded with lakes filled with trout, kokanee and other gamefish.
Washington Resources
WDFW Fishing and Stocking Reports
WDFW Fishing Regulations
National Weather Service forecasts