Fishing at Granite Lake, Pierce County, Washington

• Overview

  Granite Lake falls in Pierce County, part of Washington. What surrounds it is mixed woodland. With some 32 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. Supplies mean a trip to Morton, 19 miles off. For a city, Tacoma is 45 miles off. Close neighbours run: Pothole Lake 0.4 miles off, Bertha May Lake just 0.5 miles, Cora Lake 1.8 miles off, Lake Allen just 5 miles and Anderson Lake 5.2 miles off. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Granite Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Reported across Pierce County: pink salmon, sockeye salmon and largemouth bass. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. Fish Granite Lake to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is 33°F to 59°F. In milder years the surface never sets. It should never be assumed safe, whatever the month says. Autumn steadies things again once the heat lets go. That is the shape of the year on Granite Lake. A grey, mild day is often better than a bright, still one.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. Expect a half a mile walk in from where the car goes. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Pothole Lake sits 0.4 miles off and takes the overflow. Treat Granite Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.