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

• Overview

  Pierce County, Washington, is where Frozen Lake sits. The water sits 6,726 feet up. Small at around 4 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. It is high ground by Washington standards. Crocker at 23 miles is the nearest place to stop. Beyond it, Buckley at 24 miles and Enumclaw at 25 miles. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Frozen Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Across Pierce County, recorded fish include 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. On Frozen Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, August reads 54°F and January reads 26°F. A lid forms in a hard winter only. Cover comes and goes, so treat it with suspicion rather than trust. February into May fishes hardest as the water warms. Anyone fishing Frozen Lake regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. A campsite is mapped about half a mile away, which makes an early start easier. Facilities run to toilets half a mile from the water. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Shadow Lake at 0.7 miles is the sensible second choice. The position on Frozen Lake is worth confirming on the day.