Fishing at Lake Allen, Pierce County, Washington

• Overview

  Lake Allen sits in Pierce County, out in Washington. The surface lies 4,636 feet up. Surface area runs to about 4 acres — small enough to read in one session. Eatonville lies 19 miles from the water. The nearest city of size is Tacoma, 42 miles away. Others worth noting: Lake George 1.7 miles away, Lake Christine about 2.2 miles, Goat Lake 2.4 miles away, Kenworthy Lake about 2.5 miles and Lake West 4.4 miles away. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Lake Allen

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Open biodiversity records for Pierce County list pink salmon, sockeye salmon and largemouth bass. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. Read Lake Allen before you fish it and the day goes better.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 30°F in January and 56°F in August. Ice comes and goes from one year to the next. Cover comes and goes, so treat it with suspicion rather than trust. March through May is the strongest run, with October and November a second stretch. Plan any trip to Lake Allen around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. The map shows no ramp or car park nearby, so this is a walk-in water. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. Should this one be busy, Lake George is 1.7 miles off. The position on Lake Allen is worth confirming on the day.