Tanwax Lake fishing

Tanwax Lake fishing has Rainbow Trout on the stocking report. Also recorded: Yellow Perch, Largemouth Bass, Black Crappie, Brown Bullhead, Pumpkinseed Sunfish, and Bluegill. It is stocked about 6 times a year since 2025, most often in April and May. Species guides list dawn and dusk for Rainbow Trout and Largemouth Bass, dawn, day, and dusk for Yellow Perch and Bluegill, and dawn, dusk, and night for Black Crappie.

Tanwax Lake
Photo: Steven Pavlov, CC BY-SA 4.0
Last stocked
May 20, 2026
· Rainbow Trout
Plants on record
12
Since 2025
Species stocked
1 (+6 also recorded)
Average size
12.6 in
Surface acres
172.8
Elevation
613 ft

Fish at Tanwax Lake

1 stocked · 6 confirmed present

Around the dates Tanwax Lake is stocked, Open-Meteo's 2016-2025 archive puts mean air temperature at 47.8°F in April, 54.5°F in May, 44.4°F in November. That is air temperature at these coordinates, not water temperature. Open-Meteo

Rainbow Trout Stocked · 12 plants · last May 20, 2026 Best: dawn, dusk

Last stocked May 20, 2026 · avg 12.6 in · 12 plants

Best: dawn, dusk

Rainbow Trout species guide

How Tanwax Lake is stocked

Source: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

About 206 reported fish per acre, 6th most of 20 lakes in Pierce County with both a fish count and a surface area.

Fish stocked in 2025

26,679

Fish stocked in 2026

8,823

Stocking history

Source: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
May 20, 2026Rainbow Trout2,77311 inreport
April 17, 2026Rainbow Trout5016.7 inreport
April 17, 2026Rainbow Trout2,00010.3 inreport
April 2, 2026Rainbow Trout4,00011 inreport
November 24, 2025Rainbow Trout1,00415.2 inreport
November 24, 2025Rainbow Trout62519.2 inreport
May 7, 2025Rainbow Trout1,84010.4 inreport
April 25, 2025Rainbow Trout35010.9 inreport
April 25, 2025Rainbow Trout10017 inreport
April 15, 2025Rainbow Trout15,00010 inreport
April 9, 2025Rainbow Trout3,00010.2 inreport
April 4, 2025Rainbow Trout4,7609.4 inreport

Access and facts

Facilities
restrooms, dock

WDFW access at the south end has one concrete ramp, a parking lot and a restroom, with no boarding float. Two private resorts add boat rentals, docks and bank access. The lake is about 30 ft deep at most, fed by Benbow Lake and drained by Tanwax Creek.

Drafted by AI from the cited sources and checked before publishing.

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Advisories, closures, regulations and water conditions change. Check the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife before you go.

About Tanwax Lake

According to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Tanwax Lake offers good opportunity to harvest hatchery stocked rainbow trout, naturally reproducing largemouth bass, black crappie, yellow perch, brown bullhead catfish, and pumpkinseed sunfish. (wdfw.wa.gov, accessed September 22, 2026)

Drafted by AI from the cited sources and checked before publishing.

Photo of Tanwax Lake
Steven Pavlov, CC BY-SA 4.0

Nearest lakes

Lake Whitman 1 mi last stocked March 10, 2026 Clear Lake 1.3 mi last stocked May 7, 2026 Ohop Lake 3.1 mi last stocked March 31, 2026 Rapjohn Lake 4.7 mi last stocked May 26, 2026 Harts Lake 10.4 mi last stocked March 31, 2026

Common questions

What fish are at Tanwax Lake?

Fishing Tanwax Lake usually means Rainbow Trout. All 12 plants on record are Rainbow Trout. Rainbow Trout was last stocked May 20, 2026, averaging 12.6 in. Yellow Perch, Largemouth Bass, Black Crappie, and Brown Bullhead, plus 2 more are recorded here outside the stocking reports.

When is Tanwax Lake stocked?

Last stocked May 20, 2026. It is stocked about 6 times a year since 2025, most often in April and May. About 206 reported fish per acre, 6th most of 20 lakes in Pierce County with both a fish count and a surface area.

How big are the fish stocked at Tanwax Lake?

Rainbow Trout stocked at Tanwax Lake average 12.6 in.

How do you get on Tanwax Lake?

Facilities include restrooms and dock. WDFW access at the south end has one concrete ramp, a parking lot and a restroom, with no boarding float. Two private resorts add boat rentals, docks and bank access. The lake is about 30 ft deep at most, fed by Benbow Lake and drained by Tanwax Creek.

Which lakes near Tanwax Lake were stocked more recently?

Rapjohn Lake (4.7 mi) was stocked more recently. Rapjohn Lake is also stocked with Rainbow Trout.

Sources (3) +