Francis Lake Fishing Guide, King County, Washington

• Overview

  Francis Lake lies in King County, Washington. Land around it is open valley. Roughly 41 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. The nearest place of any size is Tanner, 19 miles away. The big place round here is Bellevue, 37 miles distant. What else is close: 0.8 miles out stands Tumwater Lake, Gouging Lake near enough 1.4 miles, 2.1 miles out stands Smith Lake, Dream Lake near enough 2.6 miles and 2.7 miles out stands Lennox Lake. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Francis Lake

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. County-wide records name Chum salmon, Coho salmon and Chinook salmon. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. On Francis Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 57°F in August and bottoms out near 27°F in December. Conditions shift steadily rather than sharply. It is not guaranteed from one year to the next. June to September is hot work, so the first and last hours are what count. The season on Francis Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. No slipway, car park or made path shows up nearby in mapping, so treat access as rough. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. Failing this one, try Tumwater Lake, 0.8 miles away. Nothing on Francis Lake should be assumed from this page alone.