Goose Lake Fishing in Mason County, Washington

• Overview

  The Mason County end of Washington holds Goose Lake. The shore lies 6.6 miles out. It lies lower than most water we list in Washington. 2 miles away sits Shelton, the nearest town. Further out sit McCleary (14 miles) and Olympia (17 miles). Nearby alternatives: Turtle Lake out at 1.4 miles, Island Lake 1.6 miles away, Johns Lake out at 1.7 miles, Clear Lake 2.5 miles away and Woelfel Lake out at 2.9 miles. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Goose Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Survey and observation records for Mason County include Chum salmon, cutthroat trout and Coho salmon. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. Work Goose Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 64°F for August and 39°F for January. Heat sets the pattern from late spring onward. Shade and hour of day matter more than month. Late winter often fishes better here than midsummer does. It sets the rhythm of the year at Goose Lake. Wind direction changes which bank is worth fishing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. The nearest mapped parking is half a mile away, so the last stretch is on foot. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. For a change of water, Turtle Lake is 1.4 miles distant. For Goose Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.