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By: Bob Johansen – July 2007
Mason County’s Trails End Lake (previously known as Pricket Lake) covers 73 surface acres, reaches maximum depths of about 30 feet and is located at 301 feet of elevation. Fish species known to me at this time are largemouth bass and rainbow trout. Both species have been known to reach lunker status in this lake.
The water is quite clear and varies just a tad throughout the year. There is very little aquatic vegetation present. Tempting casting targets for largemouth bass include lots of old submerged logs and wood in the water, private docks and floats and lots of shoreline reeds. My successful bass lures include floating Rapalas, jigs and spinnerbaits. My best bass to date out of this lake is a 19 ¾ inch, 4 pound, 2 ouncer that hit a floating Rapala on July 4, 2003. Check out old fishing reports for Trails End Lake for a report/story about this fishing trip.
Rainbow trout fishing is good to very good during the early spring and the fall months as the water cools. I have caught several nice rainbow trout up to 17 inches on this lake on floating Rapalas. Trollers do well with spinners, Hot Shots, Dick Nites and of course the old pop-gear and worms. I don’t personally have knowledge of success with the ubiquitous Power Bait but my best guess is that it would work quite well.
Public access is provided by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. The large access area provides lots of parking space, an old pit toilet and a gravel boat launching area. Hand carried craft can be launched with ease. Small trailered boats can be also be launched but the launch area is quite shallow and you will probably have your rear wheels in the water. A four wheel drive gives me the confidence needed to launch my small trailered boat. I will say, however, I rarely need to use the 4 wheel drive mode. Among the usual signs posted at WDFW access areas is one reading, “No internal combustion engines.” That means no outboards even if they are tipped up out of the water.
As with any lake, there are a few different ways to get there. From Port Orchard, I travel south on Highway #3 through Belfair to the intersection with Highway #106. Turn right onto Highway #106 for 4.0 miles to sign pointing left to E. Trails End Drive. Turn left onto E. Trails End Drive, up a steep, curvy road for 1.5 miles to intersection turning left. Turn left for .4 mile to WDFW access on the left. Break out you atlas for other directions.
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