My wife and I took our daughters out fishing for their first time and had nothing but an ugly experience. I have fished this area for many years and have had nothing but good fishing experiences. But this weekend made me want to turn back my license.

We went to Mason County to camp and was directed to some of their lakes that had public access. We dont have a boat because we just cant afford one so where we go on the lake is limited. To make a long story short..where we could fish..as we fought with the "launchers", the people who are using the lake to swim, and other people who are ripping around the lake within 10 feet of shore..we caught a twig, 6 fish 3 to 4 inches long (that we released)..and a memory for our girls that tells them how ugly fishing can be in our state.

My question is..are there any lakes in King or Pierce County where the fishing is good and where there are good places to fish from the shore and people are somewhat considerate?

Thank you
Joel

Hi Joel,
Too bad you had such a bad experience. There are better places to go than others. Off the top of my head for shore fishermen I can recommend Pine Lake in Issaquah. It has a great fishing pier and county park. Also consider some of the piers scattered throughout lake Washington. Alsio Deep Lake down by Flaming Geyser park is very nice. Theres others that I can't recall right now.
Good luck!

Joel:
Sorry your trip was a bust. I was also in Mason County this past week. I understand your frustration with the "launchers" but you do have to remember that a launch is just that, a launch. It tends to get crowded and there are alot of people fishing, swimming, throwing the stick for the dog, etc. My other problem with a launch, are the shore fisherpeople that make you feel like you are totally in the wrong for actually using the launch to put in/take out a boat/tube/pontoon. We need to get along and show a little courtesy - from both sides. I passed by Benson Lake and the shore people appeared to be doing very well, most had at least 3 fish, most around 12", with many in the 14 - 16" range. The fishing is near the launch, but there appears to be room for a few people.
You might want to check out Silver Lake in Pierce County or Black Lake in Thurston County. I would suggest that you check out lakes that have some sort of fishing dock or perhaps a place to rent a boat. I am also hopeful that you get a lot of suggestions from your post.

Hi Joel, Another good lake that is set up primarily for bank anglers is the Vance Creek ponds near Elma. One lake for seniors and kids, with the other open to all. Green Lake in Seattle is another very accessible lake. There are a number of fishing docks and places to fish from shore, and lots of people watching is also available. Get a Washington Atlas and Gazetteer(a book of maps of the State of Washington) look up lakes on this website, and take a day to scout some lakes in your local area. The Atlas makes them easy to find and you may even find lakes on the maps that some people don't hit a lot. The key to good fishing is the same as good hunting. Proper scouting! You can even target some lakes specifically for bigger fish. Look on the WDFW website for their Triploid stocking plan and catchable trout plant reports. These will help you find out which lakes just got fresh plants, or where some of the big fish are. With this info you can increase your odds of having a good time, and more importantly, increase the odds that your family will as well. Andy

Hi Joel, One other note. Your homeport is missing from your profile so we can't tell where you are located. If you mentioned a city that you live near, I'm sure that you would get even better suggestions on where to go. Andy

AM - Do you ever fish the Cloquallum or Kennedy??

Joel, I have had similar experiences to yours, and it sure does annoy me. Sadly, almost any easily accessible lake may have people like you described. However, here are a few good shore access lakes that I like, and usually have considerate people: Lake Desire; very small pleasant lake, nice dock, lots of stocked trout and small bass close to dock. Lake Meridian; huge dock, can be crowded, but has a ton of trout and a resident school of perch by the lily pads. Steel Lake; big dock, perch, trout, bass. Lake Washington; docks everywhere, big trout and perch. These are all docks close to where I live, in King county. Also, on behalf of all the jackasses that frequent our lakes, sorry!

First off let me say that I am honored by a contact from the one and only MB! I have fished Kennedy creek a number of times in the fall for chum, (a fun fish!!!!), but only north of the 101 bridge. It can be a bit of a zoo and parking can be interesting as well. Haven't fished it upstream, but there are A LOT of sea-run cutthroat out in the saltwater, so I would suspect that at the right time you could expect to hit a few of those guys. My father-in-law grew up on a farm that borders the Cloquallum just across the way from the Stump lake road (only the silo remains) and he has said that he regularly caught steelhead, chum, silvers and cutthroat from it. He even ran a nestbox for silvers for a few years. The state also plants Stump lake with steelhead which flows into the Cloquallum. Both streams get minimal pressure, but access to the Cloquallum can be tricky in some places. I would make sure that you knew who's property you were on before heading out as I swear that I heard some Banjo music on Sunday when I went fishing at Stump lake. But to answer your question, no, I haven't fished the Cloquallum. Andy

Micro Brew loves banjo music

If you fish in Thurston county, St Clair has alot of area for bank fishing at the public boat ramp. I havn't seen anyone swiming there and there is also a speed limit on the lake in that area.

Thanks much Andy. I have fished Kennedy for trout in the past. One spot up by the falls off 101 and down the hill from the old Sani-Cans (old rest stop). The only place I popped onto the Cloquallum is off 101 on the exit out to Porter. I have duck hunted off the mouth of Kennedy Creek when the chums were running into the canoe and our legs as we crossed the creek. Alway seemed to pick up afew "cans" on our Kennedy Creek duck hunt.
BTW - Dad grew up in Hoquiam, so I know the banjo music rules.....

Hey MB,
I had a flounder eat one of my decoy weights when duck hunting once at kennedy creek. The decoy went out as the tide came in. Imagine man in canoe, shotgun pointed towards the water, he pulls up the decoy line with who knows what tugging on the other end. 22" starry flounder! BTW, he was released unharmed. Andy

Hey Joel,
Just FYI. I live in Kitsap County and fish a few of the lakes in Mason. When I am bank fishing I keep to the Lakes the don't allow combustion motors, Jetskiing or have speed limits. Benson Lake is a good one. If you want to try some of the Kitsap lakes, Wildcat can be pretty good from the bank, Horshe Lake (B/T Port Orchard and Purdy) has a couple of docks to fish from and is pretty productive as well.

Tight Lines!