Fishing Moose Lake in Clallam County, Washington

• Overview

  Moose Lake sits in Clallam County, out in Washington. It stands 5,052 feet above sea level. At roughly 8 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. Port Angeles East lies 15 miles from the water. Beyond it, Port Angeles at 17 miles and Sequim at 18 miles. Others within reach: Grand Lake near enough 0.6 miles, Gladys Lake (0.6 miles), Lake Lillian near enough 2.5 miles, Cedar Lake (4.2 miles) and PJ Lake near enough 5.3 miles. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Moose Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Clallam County records list Coho salmon, rainbow trout, sockeye salmon and Chinook salmon among the fish reported. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. The shape of Moose Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate records put August near 52°F and December near 28°F. Mild ends to the year keep the season long. In milder years the edges alone go, and the middle never sets. November and March are the quiet, comfortable months to be out. Moose Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. There is camping recorded roughly 70 yards off. There are toilets 120 yards off. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Grand Lake, 0.6 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. What applies at Moose Lake may have changed since it was mapped.