Josephine Lake near Steilacoom: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Set in Pierce County, Washington, this is Josephine Lake. The surface lies 207 feet up. Roughly 76 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. The bank runs about 1.5 miles all the way round, so one visit can cover most of it. Few waters listed in Pierce County are bigger. Some 3.9 miles away sits Steilacoom, the nearest settlement. The nearest city of size is Tacoma, 13 miles away. Rules can differ a short way off, since the county line is near.

• Where to Fish on Josephine Lake

  We hold no depth figure for this one. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Across Pierce County, recorded fish 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. On Josephine Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, August reads 63°F and January reads 40°F. Summer heat is the limit here, not winter cold. Late winter and spring fish steadiest here. The cooler months are the comfortable ones to fish here. Plan any trip to Josephine Lake around it. Spring warms the shallows first, so start there.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. You can leave the car about half a mile from the water. A pier half a mile from here gives a platform over deeper water. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Florence Lake, 0.7 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. What applies at Josephine Lake may have changed since it was mapped.