Baker Lake (Whatcom) - Concrete, WA

Baker Lake, nestled in the North Cascades near Concrete, is a 4,800-acre reservoir best known for its summer sockeye salmon run. From mid-July through August, anglers troll 30–60 feet deep using red hooks or small hoochies tipped with corn behind dodgers. Early morning is the most productive time.

Sockeye are stocked through a trap-and-haul program and stage throughout the main lake basin. Downriggers and sonar are essential to locate suspended fish.

Kokanee are present and caught incidentally while trolling for sockeye. Stocked rainbow trout provide steady action near shorelines and inflows. Native cutthroat trout are also present and should be handled with care—barbless hooks and catch-and-release are encouraged.

Boat access is excellent, with launches and campgrounds at Swift Creek and Horseshoe Cove. Weather can shift quickly, so plan early trips and monitor forecasts.

Baker Lake combines scenic beauty with one of the state’s best sockeye fisheries. Check WDFW rules before fishing, as sockeye seasons vary each year.