Fishing Olallie Lake in King County, Washington

• Overview

  King County in Washington is where Olallie Lake sits. Tidal water begins 38 miles from here. It covers about 14 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. The nearest town is Tanner, 12 miles away. Renton is the closest city, 34 miles away. Within a short drive: Talapus Lake just 0.6 miles, Little Pratt Lake at about 0.7 miles, Pratt Lake just 0.9 miles, Blazer Lake at about 1.2 miles and Rainbow Lake just 1.2 miles. Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water.

• Where to Fish on Olallie Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Across King County, recorded fish include Chum salmon, Coho salmon, Chinook salmon, sockeye salmon and yellow perch. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. Olallie Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 58°F for August and 29°F for December. Some winters cap it and some do not. It should never be assumed safe, whatever the month says. March through May is the strongest run, with October and November a second stretch. Anyone fishing Olallie Lake regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. Mapping shows a campsite some half a mile from the water. There is a toilet block some 170 yards out. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Talapus Lake, 0.6 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Check the position at Olallie Lake before loading the car.