Reichel Lake, Washington: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Look for Reichel Lake in Thurston County, Washington. It stands 515 feet above sea level. It covers about 13 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. For supplies, Rainier is 6.3 miles out. Then Yelm, 8.1 miles, and North Yelm, 9.5 miles. Nearby alternatives: Lake Lawrence (2.1 miles), Nelda Lake 2.1 miles, Lake Fifteen (4.8 miles), Goodwin Lake 4.9 miles and Skookumchuck Reservoir (5.3 miles). The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Reichel Lake

  Depth remains unrecorded, so treat the first session as a survey. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Public occurrence data for Thurston County names Chum salmon, largemouth bass and bluegill. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. At Reichel Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 62°F, the coldest about 38°F. Fishing continues through most of the calendar, with quiet spells rather than closures. 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. The season on Reichel Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. No built facilities appear in mapping around this water. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Failing this one, try Lake Lawrence, 2.1 miles away. None of that is settled for Reichel Lake in what we hold.