Lake Kokanee believes in truth in advertising: This smallish reservoir can be a pretty good spot to catch kokanee!
The reservoir, also called Kokanee Lake or Lower Cushman Lake, is an even more reliable place for trout fishing.
The reservoir was formed below the far-larger Cushman Lake on the North Fork Skokomish River west of Hoodsport, just inland from Hood Canal.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife stocks more than 10,000 rainbow trout here, keeping them coming periodically nearly all year long to provide good fishing just about anytime.
This is primarily a boat show, and trout and kokanee anglers often turn to trolling small lures and bait to find their game fish.
Bank fishing access is quite limited.
Trout tend to school near the Tacoma Power access area immediately after the plantings, where bank anglers have the best shot.
Those trout that aren’t caught quickly disperse around the lake. The upper end narrows considerably in the river channel.
The water for both trout and kokanee is nice and cold and fish holdover well and grow to nice size, if they weren’t already stocked on the large size anyway.
There also are some native bull trout in the reservoir, and these must be released unharmed, so know your trout species.
From Hoodsport on Highway 101, it’s only about a six-minute drive.
Simply take N. Lake Cushman Road (State Route 119) westward a few miles and then turn south to Lake Kokanee. The access is next to the North Skokomish River Salmon Hatchery.
It’s about a 45-minute drive from Olympia and about an hour and a half driving south from Port Townsend or Sequim.
Find more fishing spots in Mason County
Washington Resources
WDFW Fishing and Stocking Reports
WDFW Fishing Regulations
National Weather Service forecasts