Fishing Mallard Lake in Pacific County, Washington

• Overview

  In Washington, Mallard Lake belongs to Pacific County. This is farm and woodlot ground. The water measures roughly 5 acres, so nothing here is far from anything else. It is a small entry by Pacific County standards. Ocean Park sits 3.4 miles from the bank. Hillsboro sits 81 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Mallard Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. Work the tide here — moving water feeds, slack water rests. 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. Records held for Pacific County cover Chinook salmon, yellow perch and largemouth bass. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. Treat Mallard Lake as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is 43°F to 60°F. Temperature moves within a narrow band, and so does the fishing. Some winters give nothing at all, so plan for open water. June to September is hot work, so the first and last hours are what count. At Mallard Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. Mapping shows a jetty some half a mile off. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. If the gate is shut, Lost Lake at 0.3 miles is the nearest alternative. For Mallard Lake in particular, ask before you travel.