Washington lake guide
Grimes Lake Fishing
Grimes Lake is a Douglas County fishing water documented by WDFW. Plan Grimes as a selective-gear Lahontan Cutthroat fishery. A float tube or other hand-carried craft is especially useful for covering productive water during the short summer season. Open June 1 through August 31 under selective-gear rules. Access through private property depends on continued responsible use.
LocationDouglas County, Washington
Primary targetsLahontan Cutthroat Trout
Best seasonSpring to early summer
Lake size186.7 acres
Guide reviewed
Scientific profile
Research snapshot
Average depth24 feet
Max depth67 feet
Elevation1,835 feet
Summer cautionHeat
Lake depth map
Depth contours may take a little time to load. Sorry for the inconvenience.
Contour line20 ft Visible depth label
Source: Washington State Department of Ecology. Historical survey data may not reflect current water levels or underwater hazards. Informational only; not for navigation.
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What makes Grimes Lake distinctive
Grimes Lake reaches about 67 feet at its deepest documented point.
Grimes Lake has documented stocking context in the FishyNW research record, adding a managed-fishery component to its profile.
Grimes Lake is documented in Douglas County County with a dedicated FishyNW fishing and access profile.
Measured & official data
Water Science
Loading available public monitoring and fishery science…
Pass 3 · depth + water column
Seasonal Fish Habitat
Surface · 0 ft
How to read this data
Temperature, dissolved oxygen, clarity, nutrients, chlorophyll-a, pH, and conductivity are observations from public monitoring records and may be historical. Thermocline depth is shown only when FishyNW can derive a strong vertical temperature gradient from a measured profile. It is not treated as a permanent lake characteristic.
Trophic indication uses the Carlson Trophic State Index only when FishyNW can normalize a measured chlorophyll-a, Secchi, or total-phosphorus value. It is a derived ecological indicator, not an agency impairment determination.
Seasonal Fish Habitat is shown only when verified bathymetry overlaps a same-day, same-station temperature and dissolved-oxygen profile. It is a historical screening snapshot, not a live prediction of where fish are located.
For lake trout, FishyNW uses the broader USGS-tested screening combination of water at or below 15°C (59°F) and dissolved oxygen at or above 4 mg/L. For other coldwater species, FishyNW does not invent a preferred-temperature threshold; it shows only the observed thermocline-to-oxygenated-depth refuge when the evidence supports it.
Harmful-algae status is never inferred from missing data. Always check the linked state source for current advisories before contact recreation.
Open matched Water Quality Portal recordsOfficial depth chart
Official static bathymetry
Interactive contours available
Grimes Lake official depth chart
Open the official depth publication to inspect the lake chart. This static survey complements interactive contours when available and should not be used as a navigation chart.
Fishery record
Documented fish species
These species come from the lake record. Open a species guide for identification, seasonal behavior, and practical tactics without confusing general species guidance with a lake-specific survey result.
Stocking information
Grimes Lake Fish Stocking
Recent stocking information summarized from Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Dates and quantities can change. Always verify current fishing rules with the official agency before fishing.
Official stocking history
Five-year summary · 2022–2026
View agency record Fish stocked30,017
Stocking events4
Years stocked4
Species stocked1
Species in this period: Cutthroat
Most recent stockings
| Date | Species | Quantity | Size | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 14, 2025 | Cutthroat | 8,400 | 55 fish/lb (~0.02 lb each) | COLUMBIA BASIN HATCHERY · Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Fish Plants |
| Oct 1, 2024 | Cutthroat | 5,406 | 24.8 fish/lb (~0.04 lb each) | COLUMBIA BASIN HATCHERY · Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Fish Plants |
Source: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Last checked: Aug 27, 2026 9:52am
Fishery intelligence
Official fishery evidence
Agency survey records and measured fishery data, distilled for trip planning.
9
verified signals
Research & surveys
Agency-backed record
Use the evidence
Turn records into a fishing plan
- Compare survey evidence with the seasonal guide.
- Use the map to connect depth, access, and structure.
- Confirm current rules and access before your trip.
Trip conditions
Current conditions
Loading the local forecast. Check access and official notices before leaving.
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Four day outlook
Tools
Today's Lure Pick
Open Tools for species-specific lure guidance.
Angler interpretation
How the fishery changes through the seasons
This is the practical layer: use it alongside the documented species, depth, stocking, survey, access, and regulation record above. The current season opens first.
Spring
trout- Start here
- Cooler water, recent stocking, fish moving shallow, and protected shorelines or inlets that warm first.
- Watch for
- Cold fronts, changing water levels, muddy inflow, and early-season ramp conditions.
Summer
listed species- Start here
- Fish early or late, then adjust toward deeper water, shade, vegetation, or comfortable temperature zones.
- Watch for
- Heat, weeds, algae, heat, and heavier boat traffic.
Fall
trout- Start here
- Cooling water, shoreline structure, points, weed edges, and simple presentations that let you cover water.
- Watch for
- Wind on open water, rapidly changing weather, and shorter daylight windows.
Winter
trout- Start here
- Legal open-water or ice access, stable depth zones, and conservative cold-weather trip plans.
- Watch for
- Ice safety where relevant, ramps, road conditions, cold-water exposure, and current rules.
Know before you go
Rules and restrictions
Verify current WDFW statewide, emergency, and water-specific rules before fishing. Any restriction explicitly noted in this guide remains subject to current WDFW rules.
Getting on the water
Access and launches
WDFW maintains an access agreement across private property; public-bank opportunity exists on the eastern side, but anglers are generally more successful from a float tube or other small floating craft.
Sorry, there are no mapped boat ramps for this lake yet. Check the access information below for other ways to reach the water.
Local angler stops
Nearby bait & tackle
Independent and locally owned shops near this water. Call ahead if you need a specific bait or item.
Brewster Bait & Tackle
Locally owned bait and tackle shopBrewster, Washington · Locally owned shop near the Brewster boat launch with salmon, sockeye, trout, perch, walleye, bass and sturgeon tackle.
Desert Fly Angler
Independent fly shopEphrata, Washington · Small Columbia Basin fly shop with flies, tying supplies, tackle, and local stillwater knowledge.
Local-business listings can change. FishyNW does not rank shops by payment or sponsorship. Verify current hours and inventory before driving.
Keep exploring
Nearby waters
Jameson Lake
about 3.8 miles away
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Blue Lake — Grant County about 13.2 miles awayBlue Lake is a 534.4-acre Grant County rainbow-trout lake and one of Washington’s popular opening-day waters. WDFW’s 2026…
Park Lake — Grant County about 13.2 miles awayPark Lake is a 338.1-acre Sun Lakes–Dry Falls trout destination and one of Washington’s busiest opening-day waters. When…
Dry Falls Lake about 14.1 miles awayDry Falls Lake is a quality Grant County trout water popular with fly anglers, with rainbow, brown, and…
After the trip
Log what happened on the water
Use CatchSignal for catch reports, trip history, photos, and community activity. Keep your fishing history while controlling how much location detail you share.
Sources & feedback
Verified resources
Official links for this lake
Open the source that matches what you are planning.
Community feedback
See something that needs an update?
Send the correction and, when possible, the source. FishyNW reviews submissions before changing the guide.