Rainbow Lake Fishing near Shelton, Washington

• Overview

  Rainbow Lake sits within Mason County in Washington. What surrounds it is oak and grass. Small at around 2 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. On size it sits at the modest end of our Mason County list. Shelton lies 4 miles from the water. The nearest city of size is Tacoma, 29 miles away. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Rainbow Lake

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Public occurrence data for Mason County names Chum salmon, cutthroat trout and Coho salmon. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. The shape of Rainbow Lake decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 63°F in August and bottom out at 39°F in January. The surface stays open the year round. Late winter and spring fish steadiest here. The hot months push the fishing to dawn and dusk. That is the shape of the year on Rainbow Lake. Barometer swings matter more than a degree or two.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. No car park, ramp or path is recorded within easy reach of the shore. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Rex Lake sits 0.8 miles off and takes the overflow. Check the current arrangement for Rainbow Lake.