Lake Kapowsin

Kapowsin Lake is open year-round and offers good fishing opportunity for largemouth bass, black crappie, yellow perch, pumpkinseed sunfish, and rock bass. The lake is also stocked yearly with rainbow trout to provide a diverse fishing experience.

Help inform fisheries management for our non-native gamefish species by submitting a fishing report for Lake Kapowsin and Ohop Lake.

Two-pole fishing is allowed

Shoreline access: Good - There are walk in fishing areas along Oroville Rd.

Species you might catch

Lake information

County: Pierce
Acreage: 490.20 ac.
Elevation: 585 ft.
Center: 46.972931, -122.227488
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Fishing resources

Catchable fish plants

Release Location: LK KAPOWSIN (PIER)
Stock Date	Species	Number Released	Number of Fish Per Pound	Facility
Mar 16, 2022	Rainbow	3,660	2	PUYALLUP HATCHERY
Mar 15, 2022	Rainbow	15,000	2.5	COLUMBIA BASIN HATCHERY
Nov 17, 2021	Rainbow	684	1.2	LAKEWOOD HATCHERY
Mar 30, 2021	Rainbow	10,000	3	PUYALLUP HATCHERY
Mar 25, 2021	Rainbow	2,500	2.5	COLUMBIA BASIN HATCHERY
Mar 23, 2021	Rainbow	12,500	2.5	COLUMBIA BASIN HATCHERY
Nov 16, 2020	Rainbow	660	1.2	LAKEWOOD HATCHERY
Apr 27, 2020	Rainbow	3,999	2.17	EELLS SPRINGS
Mar 23, 2020	Rainbow	10,010	2.7	EELLS SPRINGS
Mar 17, 2020	Rainbow	15,000	2.5	COLUMBIA BASIN HATCHERY

Fishing prospects calendar

Rainbow trout

Fishing success for Rainbow Trout is generally best in the spring when thousands of fish are stocked statewide, but they can be caught year-round in most waters with a little patience and persistence. Success remains high into June and gradually declines as water temperatures increase and fish move offshore to stay cool. Fish that escaped the spring harvest return to the nearshore areas in the fall as waters cool off. Some waters may also be stocked again in the fall further boosting catch rates.

Largemouth bass

Fishing improves throughout the spring as waters warm and fish move onshore, peaking during the spawn. Summer is a slight lull though dawn/dusk hours can be very good. Catch improves in Fall as waters cool, vegetation begins to die back, and prey becomes more available. Winter is the hardest time because fish are offshore and slow moving.

Yellow perch

Yellow Perch can be caught year-round. Fishing is best in the summer after they finish spawning in April-May. Fish can be readily angled through the summer from both the shore and boat. Catch begins to decline in the fall as water temperatures cool and fish move offshore forcing anglers to pursue them in boats. Successful fishing for Yellow Perch in the winter involves either targeting schools in deep water from boats or through the ice.

Black crappie

Fishing improves throughout the Spring, peaking during the spawn. Summer is a slight lull, while Fall sees an improvement as waters cool, vegetation dies back, and prey becomes more available. During winter, the bite is slower, but anglers can have great success fishing through the ice when conditions are safe.

Bluegill

Bluegill can be caught year-round, but fishing is best in the warm months of Summer. Fishing improves throughout the spring, peaking during the spawn in early-Summer. Fish move offshore into deeper waters through the fall as water temperatures cool making it more difficult to target them. Winter is the most difficult season in which to catch Bluegill, but persistent anglers can find them in schools of like-sized fish offshore.