Allen Lake in King County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Out in King County, Washington, sits Allen Lake. It sits 15 miles in from the sea. This is a pocket water of some 11 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. The nearest place of any size is City of Sammamish, 1.4 miles away. Further out sit Ames Lake (2.4 miles) and Klahanie (3 miles). No boundary runs near, so the county rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Allen Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. King County records list Chum salmon, Coho salmon, Chinook salmon, sockeye salmon and yellow perch among the fish reported. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. The near bank of Allen Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect August to average close to 65°F, with December the cold end at about 39°F. The year never really closes; it just gets uncomfortable in summer. Late winter and spring fish steadiest here. June to September is hot work, so the first and last hours are what count. On Allen Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. A parking area is marked roughly half a mile out. Hazel Wolf Wetlands Preserve covers this ground, which means extra rules to check. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Beaver Lake sits 1.7 miles off and takes the overflow. None of that is settled for Allen Lake in what we hold.