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43-acre lake near Federal Way. The lake tops out around 24 ft. The depth chart is built from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the humps, channels and drop-offs you see are measured, not guessed. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
The drawn water covers 43 acres wrapped in 1.1 miles of bank. A shoreline index of 1.2 says round and simple: fish relate to depth changes here, not shoreline features. Roughly 66% of the water is 15 ft or less, the band where the food chain lives. Figure 0.4 mi of water from one end to the other, 0.2 mi at the beam. It sits in King County. If the bite dies, Mirror Lake is 2 mi to the west.
Come spring, look for rainbow trout tight to the bank in 5 to 20 ft. Expect a summer slide to 6 to 24 ft, then a winter hold in 5 to 24 ft. Start at Break off the point. It's a drop-off holding about 20 ft of water and rates prime come winter. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. A dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (20 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 6 to 24 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (20 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 7 to 24 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (20 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 5 to 24 ft | dawn | Break off the point (20 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Steel Lake carries 6 mapped structure features, topping out (or rather bottoming out) at Deep basin, about 24 ft down.
Access data: Washington WDFW — Water Access Sites. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
| Date | Species | Count | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 1 | Rainbow trout | 80 | — |
| May 1 | Rainbow trout | 3,250 | — |
| Apr 14 | Rainbow trout | 8,000 | — |
Source: WDFW fish-stocking reports, retrieved 2026-08-18.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Washington waters are set by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife — and special regulations can apply to Steel Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Washington fishing regulations →
Steel Lake is about 24 ft (7 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart here comes from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the contours reflect measured depths.
Anglers target rainbow trout on Steel Lake.
Break off the point is the top-rated area: a drop-off in about 20 ft of water that rates prime for rainbow trout in winter. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
For rainbow trout, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Yes — per WDFW fish-stocking reports records, Steel Lake was most recently stocked May 1 with 80 rainbow trout. The full stocking history is listed above.
Fishing on Steel Lake is regulated by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Check the official Washington regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Mirror Lake 2 mi · Lake Killarney 3 mi · Lake Fenwick 3 mi · Angle Lake 7 mi · Lake Holm 8 mi · Lake Tapps 9 mi · Little Wapato Lake 12 mi · Pipe Lake 12 mi · Lake Lucerne 12 mi · Lake Sawyer 12 mi · Steilacoom Lake 16 mi · Gravelly Lake 16 mi
See how Steel Lake stacks up: best rainbow trout lakes in Washington
More water nearby: King County fishing maps (18 charts). Browse all Washington fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: state fisheries survey programs. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.