Spanaway Lake near Spanaway: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  You will find Spanaway Lake in Pierce County, Washington. It sits 9 miles in from the sea. At 249 acres this is proper open water rather than a pond. With 3.4 miles or so of shoreline, boat anglers cover ground the bank cannot. Size puts it in the front rank of our Pierce County list. Spanaway lies 0.7 miles from the water. McChord Air Force Base is 2.6 miles away, with Parkland at 3.2 miles. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Spanaway Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. County-wide records name pink salmon, sockeye salmon, largemouth bass and Chum salmon. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. The shape of Spanaway Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical August readings run about 65°F; by January the average is down near 39°F. There is no frozen season to plan round. October and November give a second good stretch as it cools. The hot months push the fishing to dawn and dusk. The season on Spanaway Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. Public data records a boat ramp half a mile out. You can leave the car about half a mile from the water. There is a pier recorded roughly half a mile away. Toilets show in mapping about half a mile away. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. The nearest alternative is Tule Lake, 2 miles out. For Spanaway Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.