Fishing at Hille Lake, Pierce County, Washington

• Overview

  You will find Hille Lake in Pierce County, Washington. It stands 499 feet above sea level. This is a pocket water of some 3 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. Most waters listed here for Pierce County are larger. Pacific is the closest town at 3.9 miles. Algona is 4.3 miles and Sumner 4.4 miles. You are close to a county edge here; who manages the access can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Hille Lake

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Survey and observation records for Pierce County include pink salmon, sockeye salmon and largemouth bass. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. Hille Lake responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  August runs about 65°F on average, January about 39°F. The awkward stretch is midsummer, not midwinter. October and November give a second good stretch as it cools. February into May fishes hardest as the water warms. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Hille Lake. The week either side of a change of season often fishes hardest.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. You can launch from a ramp around half a mile away. Parking is mapped about half a mile from the bank. There are toilets half a mile off. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Failing this one, try Lake Tapps, 2 miles away. Where Hille Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.