Barnes Lake, Washington: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Out in Thurston County, Washington, sits Barnes Lake. Tidal water begins 3.1 miles from here. The water covers some 29 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. It lies lower than most water we list in Washington. Nearest place of any size is Tumwater, 0.4 miles away. Olympia lies 2.9 miles off, Lacey another 4.8 miles. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Barnes Lake

  No chart reached our records; the first cast is your sounding. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. County-wide records name Chum salmon, largemouth bass and bluegill. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. Barnes Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 39°F to 64°F. The year never really closes; it just gets uncomfortable in summer. October and November give a second good stretch as it cools. February into May fishes hardest as the water warms. Plan around that when you fish Barnes Lake. Cloud cover is worth more than temperature on a bright week.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. A car park lies half a mile away, so the walk in is short. Facilities run to toilets 0.9 miles from the water. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Trosper Lake at 0.9 miles is the sensible second choice. Where Barnes Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.