Lake Tapps

Lake Tapps is currently open year-round, including the intake canal to within 400 feet of the screen at Dingle Basin. The lake offers very good opportunities for largemouth and smallmouth bass as well as tiger muskies.  There is also good fishing for yellow perch and black crappie.  Anglers are reminded that all tiger muskies less than 50 inches must be released.

Water access is provided at Lake Tapps North Park  (Pierce County) on the northeast shore, which provides a boat ramp, bathrooms, and plenty of bank access.  Also, the city of Bonney Lake provides a launch and docks along the western shore at Allan Yorke Park.

The lake's water level is normally down throughout the winter and early spring, which may limit boat  access. There remains limited shoreline access at the public access sites.

Two-pole fishing is allowed

Shoreline access: Good - There are a lot of houses around the lake, but there is very good shore access at Lake Tapps North Park.

Species you might catch

Lake information

County: Pierce
Acreage: 2433.10 ac.
Elevation: 546 ft.
Center: 47.214209, -122.169187
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Fishing resources

Catchable fish plants
Release Location: LK TAPPS (PIER)
Stock Date Species Number Released Number of Fish Per Pound Facility
May 5, 2009 Tiger Muskie 1,790 1.95 MESEBERG HATCHERY
Jun 20, 2007 Tiger Muskie 191 2.1 RINGOLD SPRINGS HATCHERY
Jun 5, 2006 Tiger Muskie 1,000 2.15 RINGOLD SPRINGS HATCHERY
May 9, 2005 Tiger Muskie 803 2 RINGOLD SPRINGS HATCHERY
May 13, 2000 Tiger Muskie 1,876 2.4 COLUMBIA BASIN HATCHERY
Visit the Catchable Trout Plants page for a more detailed search of trout plants in other bodies of water. To view and download the source data for this table visit the WDFW Fish Plants dataset on data.wa.gov.

Fishing prospects calendar

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.
Chart of fishing prospects throughout the calendar year

Smallmouth 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.
Chart of fishing prospects throughout the calendar year

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.
Chart of fishing prospects throughout the calendar year

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.
Chart of fishing prospects throughout the calendar year

Photos
Lake Tapps
Photo by WDFW