Nelda Lake near Rainier: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Nelda Lake is one of the Thurston County waters in Washington. Open valley runs right down to the water. It covers about 5 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. Supplies mean a trip to Rainier, 7.8 miles off. After that come Yelm at 8.2 miles and North Yelm at 9.6 miles. The line between counties passes nearby, which can change who manages the water.

• Where to Fish on Nelda Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Survey and observation records for Thurston County include Chum salmon, largemouth bass and bluegill. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. At Nelda Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 62°F; the cold one sits at 38°F. Seasons here are moderate, and the fishing runs most of the year. It should never be assumed safe, whatever the month says. June to September is hot work, so the first and last hours are what count. Anyone fishing Nelda Lake regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. Nothing is mapped in the way of a ramp or car park within a short radius. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Lake Lawrence sits 1.9 miles off and takes the overflow. Treat Nelda Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.