St. Clair Lake

Lake St. Clair is a 233.1-acre lowland lake at 77 feet elevation in unincorporated Thurston County, about five miles southeast of Lacey off Yelm Highway. Its center sits at roughly 46.9946° N, 122.7262° W.

The lake is open to fishing year-round and provides good fishing for stocked rainbow trout and brown trout, plus bluegill, largemouth bass, yellow perch, black crappie, and stocked channel catfish.

There are two WDFW access sites on opposite sides of Rehklau Road SE — one improved with a boat launch and vault toilets — which makes St. Clair one of the easier local lakes to get a boat onto.

Season: Lake St. Clair is open year-round. Check WDFW's current sportfishing rules and emergency rule changes before you go.

Trout: WDFW describes good fishing for stocked rainbow trout and brown trout. In spring 2026 WDFW planted more than 18,000 catchable rainbow trout (hatcheries including Eells Springs, Puyallup, and Chambers Creek), plus roughly 450 cutthroat.

Channel catfish: St. Clair is one of the few local lakes stocked with channel catfish — 4,500 were released from the Columbia Basin hatchery on May 27, 2026.

Other species: Naturally reproducing bluegill, largemouth bass, yellow perch, and black crappie.

Two-pole fishing is allowed with the appropriate endorsement.

Lake St. Clair has two WDFW access sites on opposite sides of Reklau Road SE, off Yelm Highway:

• The improved site has a boat launch, vault toilets, and parking.
• The second site provides additional access on the opposite side of the road.

Shoreline access is rated good at both WDFW boat launches. A Discover Pass or WDFW Vehicle Access Pass is generally required; confirm current requirements with WDFW.