Crescent Lake in Pierce County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Pierce County, Washington, is where Crescent Lake sits. The bank is 171 feet above sea level. With some 53 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. The full circuit measures close to 1.3 miles on foot. Size puts it in the front rank of our Pierce County list. Maplewood at 0.9 miles is the nearest place to stop. For a city, Tacoma is 11 miles off. A county line runs close by, so local bylaws can differ within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Crescent Lake

  No chart reached our records; the first cast is your sounding. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Across Pierce County, recorded fish include pink salmon, sockeye salmon, largemouth bass, Chum salmon and Coho salmon. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. Work Crescent Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 40°F in January up to 63°F in August. Fishing runs all year, with summer the awkward season. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer squeezes it into the edges of the day. April and May are the settled weeks, with October close behind. Anyone fishing Crescent Lake regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. You can launch: the ramp is half a mile away. 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. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Wildwood Pond sits 3.5 miles off and takes the overflow. What applies at Crescent Lake may have changed since it was mapped.