McAllister Spring Lake in Thurston County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  McAllister Spring Lake lies in Thurston County, Washington. Around the bank it is pine and hardwood. Surface area runs to about 3 acres — small enough to read in one session. It is a small entry by Thurston County standards. Nearest place of any size is Tanglewilde-Thompson Place, 3.1 miles away. Then Tanglewilde, 3.2 miles, and Lacey, 4.7 miles. A border sits close enough to be relevant to the paperwork.

• Where to Fish on McAllister Spring Lake

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. Thurston County records list Chum salmon, largemouth bass and bluegill among the fish reported. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. The shape of McAllister Spring Lake decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is 39°F to 64°F. Cold never closes this one. March through May is the strongest run, with autumn a second stretch. The cooler months are the comfortable ones to fish here. McAllister Spring Lake fishes to that pattern most years. After a storm, the water clears from the edges inwards.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. Public mapping records no formal access here, so plan for a walk and soft ground. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Failing this one, try Lost Lake, 1.4 miles away. For McAllister Spring Lake in particular, ask before you travel.