Tanwax Lake

2024 Trout Derby lake

Starting soon! For more information about how the trout derby works, important dates, and prizes, visit the 2024 Trout Derby page.

Tanwax Lake is open Year-Round and offers good opportunity to harvest hatchery stocked rainbow trout, naturally reproducing largemouth bass, black crappie, yellow perch, brown bullhead catfish, and pumpkinseed sunfish. Crappie is managed with a 9-inch minimum size and a 10 fish bag limit.

A WDFW access on the south shore provides a paved boat ramp and toilets. Two private resorts also provide boat rentals, dock and bank access.

Two-pole fishing is NOT allowed

Shoreline access: Good - Multiple resorts and area around boat ramp provides adequate shoreline fishing access

Species you might catch

Lake information

County: Pierce
Acreage: 172.80 ac.
Elevation: 613 ft.
Center: 46.950231, -122.266436
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Fishing resources

Catchable fish plants

Release Location: TANWAX LK (PIER)
Stock Date	Species	Number Released	Number of Fish Per Pound	Facility
Jan 7, 2021	Cutthroat	164	0.72	EELLS SPRINGS
Nov 23, 2020	Rainbow	1,000	0.81	EELLS SPRINGS
Aug 25, 2020	Rainbow	1,055	14	EELLS SPRINGS
Jul 10, 2020	Rainbow	2,048	1.6	PUYALLUP HATCHERY
Jun 4, 2020	Rainbow	450	0.9	LAKEWOOD HATCHERY
May 11, 2020	Rainbow	2,504	1.9	EELLS SPRINGS
May 4, 2020	Rainbow	12,000	1.5	TANWAX LK RESORT NP
May 4, 2020	Rainbow	3,000	2.28	EELLS SPRINGS
Mar 15, 2020	Rainbow	3,000	2	TANWAX LK RESORT NP
Jan 6, 2020	Cutthroat	300	0.69	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.

Pumpkinseed Sunfish

Pumpkinseed Sunfish are ubiquitous in most lowland lakes and readily caught year-round. Fishing is best in the spring and summer, peaking during the spawn in June. 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 to catch Pumpkinseed, but persistent anglers can find nice-sized schools offshore.