Wapato Lake is a lake in Washington, near Pierce County.
Stocking records show that the following fish or strains were stocked here. A historical stocking does not by itself prove that a self-sustaining population remains today.
Wapato Lake in Pierce County is a lake in Washington and covers about 26.5 acres.
Wapato Lake can be broken down in a few passes: shallow cover, the first break, and the deepest useful water.
Fish listed for Wapato Lake include Black Crappie, Bluegill, Brown Bullhead, Coastal Cutthroat Trout, Common Carp, Largemouth Bass, Largescale Sucker, Northern Pikeminnow, Peamouth Chub, Pumpkinseed, Smallmouth Bass, and Yellow Perch.
During the first hour near the mouth of a pocket with a slow lure, keep a small jig tipped with a worm or minnow close to bottom on a shelf for yellow perch.
During the first hour near a windblown shore before changing depth, fish a small jig or minnow around wood, weeds, and sharp little drops for black crappie.
During a calm morning near a creek-side turn before changing areas, use a small jig, worm, or tiny plastic around green weeds and protected pockets for bluegill.
During a check of nearby water near a firm-bottom flat with a slow lure, drag a tube or Ned rig across rock and the hard edge of a point for smallmouth bass.
During a check of nearby water near the mouth of a pocket where two features meet, Other targets listed here include Largemouth Bass, Brown Bullhead, and Common Carp; give each one its own bait and depth instead of trying to catch everything with the same rig.
During a return to the best bank near the downwind side while the water is falling, rainbow Trout have also been stocked here; that proves fish were released, but it does not promise that they are still common or easy to catch.
During a low-light period near a shallow shelf while the water is falling, use wind as a clue; a light push can carry food toward a bank, but hard wind may muddy it, so look for a clean edge near a point or protected pocket.
While using a simple two-depth check near the downwind side while the water is falling, spring runoff can add color and pull fish toward fresh water; green weeds and the first drop become stronger summer targets; in fall, follow bait toward points and shallow flats, while winter rewards a slower search.
During a careful second pass near a protected point with a moving bait, a light spinning rod, thin line, a few small spoons, inline spinners, and jigs cover the listed trout; carry one slightly heavier setup when other fish or windy water call for more control.
During the last hour of daylight near a rocky edge with stable weather, record the wind, water color, depth along the active edge, and cover after a bite; those four notes are more useful on the next trip than a long list of spots that did not produce.
Explore nearby waters, including local Featured destinations. Check each page for access and fishing restrictions.
Distances are straight-line estimates between mapped water locations.