Upper Jefferson Lake in Mason County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Upper Jefferson Lake stands in Mason County, Washington. The surroundings are farm and woodlot. At 5 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. Our Mason County list holds plenty of bigger water. The closest town, Seabeck, is 18 miles away. The big place round here is Seattle, 40 miles distant. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Upper Jefferson Lake

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Species logged across Mason County include Chum salmon, cutthroat trout, Coho salmon, largemouth bass and rainbow trout. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. On Upper Jefferson Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 34°F in December and 57°F in August. The swings are modest, so patterns change slowly. In milder years the edges alone go, and the middle never sets. Late winter often fishes better here than midsummer does. Plan any trip to Upper Jefferson Lake around it. A rising level after rain switches things on for a day or two.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. Mapping shows an empty shoreline: no ramp, no jetty, no marked entry. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. For a change of water, Jefferson Lake is 0.3 miles distant. For Upper Jefferson Lake in particular, ask before you travel.