St. Clair Lake Fishing Report | August 18, 2025
The report at a glance
Depth
Fish came 10 feet down on the downrigger over water 25 to 45 feet deep; marks in 45 to 50 foot pockets but takers came shallower
Presentation
A natural colored Trout Trix Minnow run 10 feet on the downrigger did the work, both naked and on a three way swivel setup. Stained water called for dark presentations; bright colors drew no hits.
Lures and baits
Natural pattern Trout Trix Minnow (only producer, fished 10 feet down)
Dark presentations paired with attractants outperformed bright colors in the stained water
Other techniques
Downrigger trolling, both naked and on a three-way swivel setup
Water temperature
72 degrees
Water clarity
Very stained
Advice for this week
In stained water, go dark and lean on attractants. Do not leave fish to find fish. When you locate a productive area, work back to it before running off.
Next week
With warm, stained water holding, the natural minnow program 10 feet down should keep producing a mixed bag of trout and bass. Note: guide Pete Fisher is not part of the Catch America guide roster.
St. Clair Lake in Thurston County gave up trout and a bass on a naked natural-pattern Trout Trix Minnow run 10 feet on the downrigger. The water is very stained at 72 degrees, so dark presentations and added scent outfished bright colors. This 233-acre lake is a maze of potholes and channels, so follow the rule and do not leave fish to find fish.
What is biting at St. Clair Lake right now?
Trout and bass. Over about three hours, the angler caught four fish, three trout and a bass, all on a naked natural-pattern Trout Trix Minnow. St. Clair reportedly holds coastal cutthroat, brown trout, rainbow trout, and black crappie.
What lure is working at St. Clair Lake?
A natural-colored Trout Trix Minnow, fished naked, was the clear producer, run 10 feet down on the downrigger. There was also a takedown on a three-way swivel setup pairing that natural Trix Minnow with a fish flash.
What depth for St. Clair Lake trout?
Run the Trout Trix Minnow 10 feet on the downrigger. The lake depth changes fast, from over 50 feet down to 13 feet as you work the channels, so the fish came while moving over both deeper pockets and shallower water around 25 feet.
How does water clarity affect St. Clair Lake?
The water is very stained, so dark presentations worked and bright presentations drew no hits. Pairing dark baits with added attractant produced better with any presentation. Water temperature was 72 degrees.
What is the key tip for St. Clair Lake?
Do not leave fish to find fish. After marking fish elsewhere without takedowns, the angler returned toward the first hookup spot and connected again. On a lake of connected potholes and channels, sticking near productive water pays off.
Watch the full report
St. Clair Lake August 18, 2025 FAQ
A naked natural-pattern Trout Trix Minnow, run 10 feet on the downrigger.
About 10 feet on the downrigger, while working water from over 50 feet down to around 13 to 25 feet.
The water is very stained, so dark baits with scent outfished bright colors.
Coastal cutthroat, brown trout, rainbow trout, and black crappie, plus the bass caught on this trip.
It is a 233-acre lake made of potholes connected by channels in Thurston County.
About 72 degrees, and very stained.
