Seattle’s popular Green Lake has consistently been rated by the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife as “excellent” for its rainbow trout fishing. And this year, given the closures of the bureau’s hatcheries west of the Cascades this most urban of lakes has been stocked with 27,000 very catchable steelhead. Hence, we foresee our most successful winter outing. Moreover, very few mention brown trout. The winter months provide some interesting opportunities for brown trout. Over the past several years 12,000 fingerling browns measuring three to five inches have been planted in Green Lake during the month of November. A few “in the know” spin fishers and the occasional fly fisher have been catching browns in the 14 to 20-inch class and sometimes larger during the winter months of November, December, January, and February. Most people will be bringing a floating device to get out on the lake. If you don’t have one, there are places from which you can cast. The best fishing should be along the southeast end of the lake paralleling East Green Lake Way. There you will also find two piers from which you can cast.

WHAT TO BRING  

• Pram, float tube, or pontoon boat. 
  
• Life jackets for boaters. 
  
• Fishing gear would include a 5 or 6 wt. fly rod, 3X leader and sink tip line. 
  
• Woolley Buggers in white and/or black, sizes 10 or 12. 
  
• Your Washington fishing license. 
  
• Warm clothes and rain gear (even if doesn’t look like rain).
  
• Thermos of hot liquid (coffee, tea, cocoa, etc.) 
  
• Snacks for boat or vest. 
• Camera in a Ziplock bag. 
  

WHERE TO MEET 

• By the “L” dock just east of the Aqua Theater located on the southwest part of the lake (zoom in on the map to see).