Warm Lake is a 640 acre lake about 25 miles east of Cascade on Forest Service Road 22 (Warm Lake Highway). The lake is open year around and general bag limits apply to all species. Excellent facilities make Warm Lake a great family fishing destination. The U.S. Forest Service maintains a campground, day use area and boat ramp on the north shore. Two private lodges also provide services.

If you are just getting started fishing and need to pick up some equipment, start with an outfit as illustrated below. A medium weight 5'-6' rod with matching reel loaded with 4-6 pound monofilament line, some size 8-10 snelled hooks, a few small swivels and weights and you are ready to go. A bobber is optional.

Rainbow trout are stocked throughout the spring and summer and provide the primary fishery on Warm Lake. Brook trout, whitefish, kokanee, lake trout, and bull trout are also present. Anglers should note that there is a statewide no harvest rule on bull trout, they must be released immediately.

Bank anglers will do especially well along the rocky northwest shoreline, using worms or salmon eggs. Adding a marshmallow will help to keep the bait off the bottom and in the fishes view. Shoreline fishing will be best early in the morning and evenings when fish are feeding in closer the shore.

Boat and float tube anglers have success with lures and flies as well. Trout will tend to seek deeper depths during the hot summer months. Anglers will have better success when using leadcore line and jigging at about 30 feet deep.

Fly anglers will have best success in the morning and evening as the trout begin to surface feed.

Lake trout (mackinaw) were stocked into Warm Lake in 1976. Though they never really took off, there is still a small population in the lake and the occasional 15 pounder is caught by the persistent angler. Lake trout tend to school in deep water and can be caught by jigging or trolling with a down rigger.

An underutilized fish in Warm Lake is the abundant Mountain Whitefish. They can be caught in open water by jigging small spoons or crappie jigs tipped with maggots or salmon eggs.

Ice fishing opportunities on Warm Lake is very good for whitefish and trout. The road into the lake is open year-round.