American Lake

American Lake is open year-round and offers good harvest opportunities for stocked rainbow trout and kokanee. The lake also supports naturally reproducing populations of yellow perch, brown bullhead catfish, rock bass, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and coastal cutthroat. American Lake has some of the better yellow perch fishing in the Pierce County area.

WDFW boat ramp has a two-lane concrete plank ramp and vault toilets, while two county parks provide access, bank fishing and toilets. Private and military resort facilities are also available.

See Washington State Parks website for ADA accessibility  information.

Two-pole fishing is allowed

Shoreline access: Good
The WDFW access area has a large area for shore based fishing. There area also a few county parks that allow fishing.

WDFW water access areas on this lake

Species you might catch

Lake information

County: Pierce
Acreage: 1091.30 ac.
Elevation: 238 ft.
Center: 47.13287, -122.562286
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Fishing resources

Fishing prospects calendar
Kokanee
  • January: Fair fishing - All month
  • February: Fair fishing - All month
  • March: Good fishing - All month
  • April: Poor fishing - All month
  • May: Poor fishing - All month
  • June: Good fishing - All month
  • July: Excellent fishing - All month
  • August: Excellent fishing - All month
  • September: Excellent fishing - All month
  • October: Good fishing - All month
  • November: Good fishing - All month
  • December: Fair fishing - All month
Yellow perch
  • April: Fair fishing - All month
  • May: Good fishing - All month
  • June: Excellent fishing - All month
  • July: Excellent fishing - All month
  • August: Good fishing - All month
  • September: Good fishing - All month
  • October: Fair fishing - All month
Largemouth bass
  • April: Fair fishing - Second half of month
  • May: Good fishing - All month
  • June: Good fishing - All month
  • July: Good fishing - All month
  • August: Good fishing - First half of month
  • September: Fair fishing - All month
Rainbow trout
  • January: Poor fishing - All month
  • February: Poor fishing - All month
  • March: Excellent fishing - All month
  • April: Excellent fishing - All month
  • May: Excellent fishing - All month
  • June: Excellent fishing - All month
  • July: Excellent fishing - First half of month
  • August: Good fishing - All month
  • September: Good fishing - First half of month
  • October: Fair fishing - All month
  • November: Fair fishing - All month
  • December: Poor fishing - All month
Rock bass
  • April: Fair fishing - Second half of month
  • May: Good fishing - All month
  • June: Excellent fishing - All month
  • July: Excellent fishing - All month
  • August: Good fishing - All month
  • September: Good fishing - All month
Smallmouth bass
  • April: Fair fishing - Second half of month
  • May: Good fishing - All month
  • June: Good fishing - All month
  • July: Good fishing - All month
  • August: Good fishing - First half of month