Washington lake guide

Sullivan Lake Fishing

Sullivan Lake is a 1,283-acre Pend Oreille County mountain lake supporting brown and rainbow trout, kokanee, burbot, mountain whitefish, Westslope cutthroat trout, pygmy whitefish, tench, and redside shiner. Cold water and steep surrounding terrain favor a boat-oriented trip, while spring and fall offer cooler conditions and lighter recreation pressure. WDFW’s current lake profile does not document a recent lake-specific stocking plant, so anglers should not assume hatchery fish are being added.

LocationPend Oreille County, Washington
Primary targetsKokanee, Rainbow Trout
Best seasonSpring to early summer
Lake size1,283 acres
View access Fish in this lake Log a catch in CatchSignal

Guide reviewed

Map
Scientific profile

Research snapshot

Max depth320 feet
Elevation2,592 feet
Public launches2
Summer cautionWind

Lake depth map

Depth contours may take a little time to load. Sorry for the inconvenience.

Source: Washington State Department of Ecology. Historical survey data may not reflect current water levels or underwater hazards. Informational only; not for navigation.

Did you know?

What makes Sullivan Lake distinctive

Sullivan Lake reaches about 320 feet at its deepest documented point.

Sullivan Lake covers roughly 1,283 surface acres, making it one of the larger waters represented in FishyNW.

FishyNW documents 8 fish species here, giving Sullivan Lake an unusually broad mix of fishing opportunities.

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Measured & official data

Water Science

Loading available public monitoring and fishery science…

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.

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.

Browse all species
Trout and salmon Kokanee Troll small dodgers, hoochies, wedding rings, or spinners. View species guide Trout and salmon Rainbow Trout Use bait, small spinners, spoons, or slow trolling depending on access. View species guide Ancient and miscellaneous fish Burbot Fish cold water, deep breaks, basin edges, rocky structure, and winter or low-light windows. View species guide Trout and salmon Brown Trout See seasonal habitat, presentations, identification, and regulation cautions. View species guide
Stocking information

Sullivan 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.

Most recent stockings

DateSpeciesQuantitySizeDetails
Jun 6, 2013 Kokanee 32,946 289 fish/lb (~0 lb each) SPOKANE HATCHERY · Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Fish Plants
Jun 6, 2013 Kokanee 12,006 261 fish/lb (~0 lb each) SPOKANE HATCHERY · Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Fish Plants

Source: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Last checked: Aug 17, 2026 7:12pm

Fishery intelligence

Official fishery evidence

Agency survey records and measured fishery data, distilled for trip planning.

7 verified signals
Research & surveys Official survey records available

Agency survey evidence is documented for this fishery.

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.
Open seasonal guidance
Trip conditions

Current conditions

Loading the local forecast. Check access and official notices before leaving.

TodayLoading
WindLoading
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Four day outlook
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, kokanee
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

kokanee early
Start here
Fish early or late, then adjust toward deeper water, shade, vegetation, or comfortable temperature zones.
Watch for
Wind, 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.
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Keep exploring

Nearby waters

Little Lost Lake — Pend Oreille County about 6.6 miles away

Little Lost Lake is a tiny remote Pend Oreille County trout water with no verified developed launch, making…

 Caldwell Lake about 11.2 miles away

Caldwell Lake is a 17.1-acre Pend Oreille County Brook Trout lake stocked annually with Eastern Brook Trout. WDFW…

 Nile Lake about 13.3 miles away

Nile Lake is a small year-round Colville National Forest fishery southwest of Ione with prolific but small brook…

 Deep Lake — Stevens County about 14.5 miles away

Deep Lake is a 191.7-acre Stevens County trout-and-kokanee lake stocked annually with Rainbow Trout and Kokanee, with naturalized…

 Pend Oreille River River system

Northeast Washington river and reservoir water extending from the Idaho line through Box Canyon and Boundary. Large water,…

 Sullivan Creek River system

A cold Pend Oreille River tributary flowing through the Sullivan Lake and Metaline Falls area. It offers small-stream…
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.

Log a catch in CatchSignal
Sources & feedback
Verified resources

Official links for this lake

Open the source that matches what you are planning.

Planning Official resource Open resource
Community feedback

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Send the correction and, when possible, the source. FishyNW reviews submissions before changing the guide.