Fishing at Silver Lake, Pierce County, Washington

• Overview

  You will find Silver Lake in Pierce County, Washington. Tidal water begins 21 miles from here. With some 134 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. With about 1.6 miles of edge, you can try several depths in one session. It ranks high for size among our Pierce County listings. Some 4.8 miles away sits Eatonville, the nearest settlement. Elk Plain lies 12 miles off, Yelm another 12 miles. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Silver Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Survey and observation records for Pierce County include pink salmon, sockeye salmon, largemouth bass and Chum salmon. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. Take Silver Lake a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 63°F, the coldest about 38°F. Warm months push fish deep; cool months bring them back. March through May is the strongest run, with autumn a second stretch. The cooler months are the comfortable ones to fish here. That shapes the year on Silver Lake. Cool nights slow the mornings but sharpen the evenings.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Cranberry Lake, 1 mile away, makes the obvious fallback. The position on Silver Lake is worth confirming on the day.