Freshwater fishing near Lakewood Wa???

[Anglinarcher]

I have an opportunity to relocate to the Lakewood area, but I am not quite sure about it.

If fishing was the only factor, how good is the freshwater fishing within +/- 100 miles of Lakewood?
What would I be fishing for?
How big or small?

If the quality of fishing was the only thing in question, what would you suggest? or

[G-Man]

There are quite a few freshwater fishing opportunities within 100 miles of Lakewood. The most prominent being American lake which has a good selection of species from which to target. Tapps would be another in your range and is a good bass and tiger muskie lake. There a several smaller lakes in the area as well and most all contain bass and perch. A little further north and you run across Lake Washington and Lake Sammamish, both of which can keep a person entertained by themselves. You also have a few rivers from which to choose and salmon, steelhead and trout can be found in them as well as tribal nets... What you will leave behind is ice fishing, lakers, walleye and good catfish, though Kress and Swafford both contain channel cats. Perch tend to dominate the spiny ray population though there are crappie and bluegill to be had in a few of the lakes. 100 miles may not seem like much distance to travel, but it can take quite some time if traffic is not in your favor and traffic is one thing that is plentiful in the area between Olympia and Everett.

As for size and quality of fish, I think in general that the fish are smaller with the exception being perch and smallmouth bass. Where you can scare up 40 1lb smallies a day in Banks and Roosevelt, you can put several 3+ lb fish in your livewell on American, Tapps, Washington and Sammamish.

I like the area because of the variety of fishing opportunities that the rivers, lakes, ponds and ultimately the saltwater provides. Salmon and steelhead in the rivers is a huge plus and would be enough for me to make the move.

[blurock]

Don't think I could have said it any better than G-Man. LOTS of fishing around the Lakewood area, specially if your willing to travel that far (100 miles... I don't like going much further than 20 or 30 unless it's a camping weekend trip lol) Trout, Bass, Kokanee, Salmon, Steelhead are all within easy reach as well as crappie and perch. There so many great little lakes to explore around there, you could visit a new one every weekend if you wanted.

[Toni]

Nisqually river:trout, King Salmon, Coho Salmon, Chum Salmon, Every other year Pink Salmon. Riffe Lake: landlocked coho, and different bass. Cowlitz river: trout, King Salmon, Coho Salmon and steelhead. Summit lake: has bass, trout, and kokanee.
Lawrence, McIntosh, Munn, Hicks, Offit, Ward...Lots and lots.
Given 100 miles one could nearly fish year round.

[ResQ]

I have a 26.5 inch brown trout on my wall from a lake approx. 30 mins or so from Lakewood. Fantastic fishing in this area! Even lots of salt fishing too!

[Rosann G]

You wouldn't have to go 50 miles to have awesome fishing opportunities but I would seriously consider the traffic problems and whether you want to put up with that. The job and pay better be worth it. We hate going over to the dark side to visit because of the traffic! but the fishing over there was great.

[ResQ]

Traffic is only bad for a small bit. Depends on where your going at what time.

[Chucksrage]

I moved over here from Spokane several years ago and I'm about 10 minutes from Lakewood. I fish 10 months out of the year and never travel more than 50-60 miles at any one point(unless going for a multiday camping trip). Traffic is typically bad during the morning and evening rush hours during the week. Most weekend travel for fishing is quick and easy at the times you are getting up and heading out. Just avoid Downtown Seattle as much as possible.

[racfish]

One thing that Pierce Thurston,King,Snohomish has is alot of fantastic angeling. There are too many lakes to mention them all especially Pierce County. Lake Tanwax,Lake Kapowsin,Spanaway,

[Anglinarcher]

Thanks all. Other then traffic, it all boils down to cost of living now.