Florence Lake Fishing in Pierce County, Washington

• Overview

  Set in Pierce County, Washington, this is Florence Lake. It sits at 210 feet above sea level. Around 65 acres of surface means several distinct areas to work. Roughly 1.8 miles of bank means you can walk to a fresh area when one goes quiet. Size puts it in the front rank of our Pierce County list. Steilacoom at 4 miles is the nearest place to stop. For a city, Tacoma is 13 miles off. The boundary is close enough to be worth checking before you fish.

• Where to Fish on Florence Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Open biodiversity records for Pierce County list pink salmon, sockeye salmon, largemouth bass, Chum salmon and Coho salmon. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. Fish Florence Lake to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect August to average close to 63°F, with January the cold end at about 40°F. The season runs year-round, with the peak either side of summer. Late winter and spring fish steadiest here. November and March are the quiet, comfortable months to be out. Florence Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Recorded parking is half a mile off, far enough to travel light. Fishing from a pier is possible 0.9 miles away. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. The nearest alternative is Josephine Lake, 0.7 miles out. Check the current arrangement for Florence Lake.