Turtle Lake Fishing Guide, Mason County, Washington

• Overview

  You will find Turtle Lake in Mason County, Washington. Salt water lies 6.3 miles off. At 10 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. It is low-lying compared with other Washington water we list. Shelton is the closest town at 3.1 miles. McCleary is 15 miles away, with Allyn at 17 miles. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Turtle Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Fish documented in Mason County include Chum salmon, cutthroat trout, Coho salmon and largemouth bass. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. The shape of Turtle Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 63°F, the coldest about 39°F. There is no frozen season to plan round. October and November give a second good stretch as it cools. Late winter often fishes better here than midsummer does. That shapes the year on Turtle Lake. Warm spells bring fish up, cold snaps push them down.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. A car park sits roughly half a mile away. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Johns Lake sits 0.4 miles off and takes the overflow. Check the position at Turtle Lake before loading the car.