Collins Lake Fishing Guide, Mason County, Washington

• Overview

  Collins Lake sits in Mason County, out in Washington. It stands 476 feet above sea level. At 11 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. Belfair lies 7.4 miles from the water. Allyn lies 8.1 miles off, Key Center another 13 miles. What else is close: Howell Lake some 0.6 miles off, Erdman Lake after 0.6 miles, Haven Lake some 1.4 miles off, Shoe Lake after 1.4 miles and Larson Lake some 1.6 miles off. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Collins Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Across Mason County, recorded fish include Chum salmon, cutthroat trout, Coho salmon and largemouth bass. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. Treat Collins Lake as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give August about 63°F and January about 39°F. Fishing runs all year, with summer the awkward season. March through May is the strongest run, with autumn a second stretch. Spring and autumn carry the year; summer squeezes it into the ends of the day. On Collins Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. Somewhere to sit and eat is half a mile out. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. Failing this one, try Howell Lake, 0.6 miles away. Check the position at Collins Lake before loading the car.