Washington lake guide
Shadow Lake (King County) Fishing
Shadow Lake is a King County trout-and-warmwater fishery with stocked Rainbow Trout, Largemouth Bass, and Yellow Perch. A WDFW ramp and large parking area support boat access, while the no-internal-combustion rule keeps the lake oriented toward electric and paddle craft.
LocationKing County, Washington
Primary targetsLargemouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch
Best seasonSpring through fall
Lake size49 acres
Guide reviewed
Scientific profile
Research snapshot
Average depth22 feet
Max depth45 feet
Elevation539 feet
Summer cautionHeat
Lake map
Help us place this lake on the map
FishyNW covers a lot of lakes, and we are hustling to get every map completed accurately. This one slipped through. Know where the map should be centered? Send the coordinates or a Google Maps link and we will review it.
Did you know?
What makes Shadow Lake (King County) distinctive
Shadow Lake (King County) has documented stocking context in the FishyNW research record, adding a managed-fishery component to its profile.
Shadow Lake (King County) is documented in King County County with a dedicated FishyNW fishing and access profile.
Measured & official data
Water Science
Loading available public monitoring and fishery science…
Pass 3 · depth + water column
Seasonal Fish Habitat
Surface · 0 ft
How to read this data
Temperature, dissolved oxygen, clarity, nutrients, chlorophyll-a, pH, and conductivity are observations from public monitoring records and may be historical. Thermocline depth is shown only when FishyNW can derive a strong vertical temperature gradient from a measured profile. It is not treated as a permanent lake characteristic.
Trophic indication uses the Carlson Trophic State Index only when FishyNW can normalize a measured chlorophyll-a, Secchi, or total-phosphorus value. It is a derived ecological indicator, not an agency impairment determination.
Seasonal Fish Habitat is shown only when verified bathymetry overlaps a same-day, same-station temperature and dissolved-oxygen profile. It is a historical screening snapshot, not a live prediction of where fish are located.
For lake trout, FishyNW uses the broader USGS-tested screening combination of water at or below 15°C (59°F) and dissolved oxygen at or above 4 mg/L. For other coldwater species, FishyNW does not invent a preferred-temperature threshold; it shows only the observed thermocline-to-oxygenated-depth refuge when the evidence supports it.
Harmful-algae status is never inferred from missing data. Always check the linked state source for current advisories before contact recreation.
Open matched Water Quality Portal recordsFishery record
Documented fish species
These species come from the lake record. Open a species guide for identification, seasonal behavior, and practical tactics without confusing general species guidance with a lake-specific survey result.
Bass and sunfish
Largemouth Bass
Look for weeds, docks, wood, shade, and warmer pockets.
View species guide
Trout and salmon
Rainbow Trout
Use bait, small spinners, spoons, or slow trolling depending on access.
View species guide
Perch and pike
Yellow Perch
Use small jigs, bait, or dropper rigs near schools.
View species guide
Fishery intelligence
Official fishery evidence
Agency survey records and measured fishery data, distilled for trip planning.
9
verified signals
Research & surveys
Official survey records available
Use the evidence
Turn records into a fishing plan
- Compare survey evidence with the seasonal guide.
- Use the map to connect depth, access, and structure.
- Confirm current rules and access before your trip.
Trip conditions
Current conditions
Loading the local forecast. Check access and official notices before leaving.
TodayLoading
WindLoading
GustsLoading
Rain chanceLoading
Four day outlook
Tools
Today's Lure Pick
Open Tools for species-specific lure guidance.
Angler interpretation
How the fishery changes through the seasons
This is the practical layer: use it alongside the documented species, depth, stocking, survey, access, and regulation record above. The current season opens first.
Spring
trout, bass- Start here
- Cooler water, recent stocking, fish moving shallow, and protected shorelines or inlets that warm first.
- Watch for
- Cold fronts, changing water levels, muddy inflow, and early-season ramp conditions.
Summer
bass, panfish- Start here
- Fish early or late, then adjust toward deeper water, shade, vegetation, or comfortable temperature zones.
- Watch for
- Heat, weeds, algae, heat, and heavier boat traffic.
Fall
trout, bass- Start here
- Cooling water, shoreline structure, points, weed edges, and simple presentations that let you cover water.
- Watch for
- Wind on open water, rapidly changing weather, and shorter daylight windows.
Winter
perch, trout- Start here
- Legal open-water or ice access, stable depth zones, and conservative cold-weather trip plans.
- Watch for
- Ice safety where relevant, ramps, road conditions, cold-water exposure, and current rules.
Know before you go
Rules and restrictions
Internal-combustion motors are prohibited; two-pole fishing is allowed. Verify current WDFW fishing rules before fishing.
Getting on the water
Access and launches
WDFW documents a boat ramp with a large parking area. Shoreline access is not available at the WDFW site, and internal-combustion motors are prohibited.
Sorry, there are no mapped boat ramps for this lake yet. Check the access information below for other ways to reach the water.
Local angler stops
Nearby bait & tackle
Independent and locally owned shops near this water. Call ahead if you need a specific bait or item.
Puget Sound Fly Shop
Family- and veteran-owned independent fly shopTacoma, Washington · Independent Tacoma fly shop with rods, reels, flies, tying materials, instruction, and local knowledge for South Sound, trout, and steelhead fisheries.
Gig Harbor Fly Shop
Independent full-service fly shopGig Harbor, Washington · Long-running independent fly shop with regional flies, rods, reels, tying gear, classes, rentals, and local lake, river, and Puget Sound fishing knowledge.
Narrows Marina Bait & Tackle
Independent marina bait and tackle shopTacoma, Washington · South Sound bait-and-tackle store carrying live and frozen bait, salmon and bottomfish tackle, river gear, rods, reels, downriggers, crab and shrimp gear, and fishing licenses.
Local-business listings can change. FishyNW does not rank shops by payment or sponsorship. Verify current hours and inventory before driving.
Keep exploring
Nearby waters
Spring Lake (King County)
about 2.1 miles away
Spring Lake is a King County mixed fishery with stocked Rainbow Trout plus resident Largemouth Bass, Yellow Perch,…
Lake Desire about 2.7 miles awayLake Desire is a small King County mixed fishery with stocked Rainbow Trout and resident Largemouth Bass, Yellow…
Lake Meridian about 4.3 miles awayLake Meridian is included in FishyNW's contour-required Washington expansion because mapped depth structure is useful to anglers for…
Lake Sawyer about 5.5 miles awayLake Sawyer is included in FishyNW's contour-required Washington expansion because mapped depth structure is useful to anglers for…
After the trip
Log what happened on the water
Use CatchSignal for catch reports, trip history, photos, and community activity. Keep your fishing history while controlling how much location detail you share.
Sources & feedback
Verified resources
Official links for this lake
Open the source that matches what you are planning.
Community feedback
See something that needs an update?
Send the correction and, when possible, the source. FishyNW reviews submissions before changing the guide.