Fishing at Lake Kakanee, Mason County, Washington

• Overview

  Lake Kakanee stands in Mason County, Washington. The bank is 489 feet above sea level. It measures about 52 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. Shoreline comes to about 1.9 miles, small enough to learn in a day. Size puts it in the front rank of our Mason County list. Some 14 miles away sits Shelton, the nearest settlement. Tacoma is the closest city, 37 miles away. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Lake Kakanee

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Fish documented in Mason County include Chum salmon, cutthroat trout, Coho salmon, largemouth bass and rainbow trout. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. Take Lake Kakanee a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 38°F in January up to 62°F in August. The freeze here is occasional rather than annual. Cover comes and goes, so treat it with suspicion rather than trust. November and March are the quiet, comfortable months to be out. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Lake Kakanee.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. You can launch from a ramp around half a mile away. Recorded parking is half a mile off, far enough to travel light. A pier or jetty stands half a mile away, which helps on a crowded bank. A toilet block sits 0.9 miles away. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Lake May, 0.5 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. What applies at Lake Kakanee may have changed since it was mapped.