Kent Lake near Shelton: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Mason County, Washington, is where Kent Lake sits. This is open plain ground. At 9 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. The closest town, Shelton, is 4.8 miles away. Further out sit McCleary (16 miles) and Allyn (18 miles). It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it. Conditions change the water more than the calendar does.

• Where to Fish on Kent Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Mason County records list Chum salmon, cutthroat trout, Coho salmon and largemouth bass among the fish reported. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. Fish Kent Lake where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 63°F at the top of summer and 39°F at the bottom of winter. Warm months push fish deep; cool months bring them back. Heat pushes fish deep from June onwards, so start early. November and March are the quiet, comfortable months to be out. Plan around that when you fish Kent Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. We find no slipway, car park or made path within a short radius, so treat access as rough. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Should this one be busy, Woelfel Lake is 0.2 miles off. Treat access at Kent Lake as something to verify.