It’s that time of year again, trout fishing has finally kicked off! May is a great time to take your family out to your local lake. WDFW stocks many lakes with thousands of catchable size rainbow trout every spring. These fish are hungry and active, and taste great on the grill. There’s nothing like a relaxing day of fishing followed by a good trout dinner. Let’s talk about my favorite Western Washington trout lakes. I will include lakes with both boat ramps and good shore access on this list.
American Lake
Let’s kick off this list with a beloved Pierce County lake. There are multiple boat ramps and shore access spots on this large lake. This is a popular spot for jet skis and pleasure boaters, so exercise caution if you’re on a small boat. This lake is deeper and larger than most lakes in the area. The fish can be a bit more difficult to find since they have room to spread out. However, WDFW usually plants twenty thousand or more fish, so your odds are pretty good! Try fishing the shore or dock at Harry Todd Park, or pay a small fee to fish at Bill’s Boathouse. They also offer boat rentals. If the trout aren’t biting, you can also try your luck for yellow perch.
Lake Ballinger
This northern lake has good shore access and a large fishing pier. It’s a great spot for fishermen with small boats, rafts, or kayaks. Gasoline motors are not permitted, so you won’t have to worry about getting blown off the water by jet skis or large boats. The south end of the lake is a bit deeper, and that’s where the fish tend to hang out.
Mineral Lake
This lake is a bit off the beaten path, but you have the best chance of scoring a trophy trout here. There is a fishing dock and decent shore access. You’ll have company on weekends, however. There are also brown trout in this lake! A word of caution for boaters- there are many stumps on the lake, and some are difficult to see. Keep an eye out!
Black Lake
Located close to Olympia, this popular lake boasts a variety of different kinds of fish. If the trout aren’t biting, try for panfish! There is good shore access at the park and boat launch. WDFW has planted over twenty thousand trout here this spring.
Lake Padden
No list of West side trout lakes is complete without this one. It has some of the best shore access around! The shoreline is dotted with families enjoying a tranquil day on the water. There is a boat launch, but gasoline motors are not allowed. This lake is small and shallow, I’d definitely recommend soaking dough baits or using a bobber and worm.
Harts Lake
This secluded, serene lake has amazing scenery and even better fishing. There is a small campground, pay to fish dock, and tackle shop right next to the boat ramp. Troll around the edges of the lake until you figure out where the fish are holding, it seems to change frequently. You can also drop anchor and toss dough bait. This lake is also great for catfish, the shore fills up with fishermen on hot summer nights.
Remember to check the weather forecast before heading out, bring life jackets, and put on plenty of sunscreen! For the best meat quality, bleed, gut, and ice your fish right away. Most importantly, have a great time! Rainbow trout put up a good fight for their size and are eager biters. They are easy for kids to handle because they don’t have spines on their body like many other fish. May is the perfect time to go out and explore your local lake!
