St. Clair Lake

Saint Clair Lake has a year-round open season that provides good fishing for stocked rainbow trout and brown trout. The lake also supports naturally reproducing populations of bluegill sunfish, largemouth bass, yellow perch, black crappie, and stocked channel catfish.

There are two WDFW access sites on opposite sides of Rehklau Road SE, off Yelm Highway. One of the sites is improved with a boat launch and vault toilets.

Two-pole fishing is allowed

Shoreline access: Good - Shoreline access at both WDFW boat launches

Species you might catch

Lake information

County: Thurston
Acreage: 233.10 ac.
Elevation: 77 ft.
Center: 46.994559, -122.726246
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Fishing resources

Catchable fish plants

Release Location: LK ST CLAIR (THUR)
Stock Date	Species	Number Released	Number of Fish Per Pound	Facility
Dec 22, 2022	Cutthroat	93	0.75	EELLS SPRINGS
Nov 17, 2022	Rainbow	530	1.66	LAKEWOOD HATCHERY
May 3, 2022	Rainbow	2,250	2	CHAMBERS CR HATCHERY
Apr 25, 2022	Rainbow	2,000	2.5	PUYALLUP HATCHERY
Apr 12, 2022	Rainbow	3,684	2.31	EELLS SPRINGS
Apr 12, 2022	Rainbow	3,672	2.31	EELLS SPRINGS
Apr 6, 2022	Rainbow	760	1	LAKEWOOD HATCHERY
Apr 5, 2022	Rainbow	3,670	2.42	EELLS SPRINGS
Mar 16, 2022	Rainbow	6,050	2.2	CHAMBERS CR HATCHERY
Jan 5, 2022	Cutthroat	395	0.7	EELLS SPRINGS

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.

Channel catfish

Fishing improves throughout the spring, peaking before the spawning period in June and July. Fishing may pick up in early Fall, followed by a decrease in action as waters cool. Winter is a difficult time to target this species.

Photos

Photo by WDFW