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

• Overview

  Forest Lake lies within the bounds of Pierce County, Washington. It lies 3,950 feet above sea level. Small at around 4 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. Most waters listed here for Pierce County are larger. The closest town, Enumclaw, is 24 miles distant. After that come Buckley at 25 miles and Wilderness Rim at 28 miles. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Forest 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. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Species logged across Pierce County 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. The near bank of Forest Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 59°F for August and 29°F for January. The year turns gently, without extremes at either end. Cover comes and goes, so treat it with suspicion rather than trust. February into May fishes hardest as the water warms. Time your trip to Forest Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. If the gate is shut, George Lake at 2.9 miles is the nearest alternative. For Forest Lake in particular, ask before you travel.