Lake Terrell

 fishing area, lake, birdwatching area, nature conservation park / area

wdfw.wa.gov/lands/wildlife_areas/whatcom/Lake%20Terrell...

The 1,500-acre Lake Terrell unit is ten miles northwest of Bellingham and five miles west of Ferndale. It includes Lake Terrell, a 500-acre man-made, shallow lake with two peat bog marshes on its south and southwest sides, and Terrell Creek.

About 55 acres are farmed annually to produce winter food for waterfowl and upland game. Wild rice has been planted in the lakebed since 1988 and is producing seed annually. Several artificial islands, constructed to attract nesting waterfowl, have been used extensively by Canada geese. The adjacent fields are excellent brooding areas for goslings. Wintering trumpeter and tundra swans also use the lake as a night roost area. Pen-raised pheasants are released weekly in the fall for hunting. Duck blinds have been constructed on some of the artificial islands, and the lake has been developed with boat launches and other amenities.

Although Terrell Creek was originally dammed to create an impoundment and restore wetland habitat for waterfowl, the resulting water body also supports introduced fish species. Lake Terrell, with its uniquely undeveloped shoreline and diverse fishery, has become one of the prime destination fishing venues in North Puget Sound. Anglers catch largemouth bass (which reproduce naturally in the lake), channel catfish, triploid rainbow trout, perch, sunfish and bullheads. Several major bass fishing tournaments are held on the lake annually.