Washington towns

Fishing near Auburn, Washington

King County, population 87,256.

  • 3 milesto nearest paged water
  • 8launches nearby
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Photo of Commencement Bay: Jameson Fink, CC BY 2.0

Auburn, Washington

Water within a short drive of Auburn

With 87,256 people in 2020, Auburn ranks as a city of King County. Roughly 3 miles west sits Lake Geneva, the nearest water with a guide. Among the nearby lakes, North Lake is biggest at 51 surface acres in the WDFW layer. Launch at Lake Geneva boat launch, roughly 4 miles out.

The nearest marine page is Tacoma-Vashon Island (Marine Area 11), around 9 miles off. The nearest WDFW shore site is Dykstra on Green River, 1 mile off. About 3 miles away, Lake Geneva got a 2026 WDFW plant.

3 milesto Lake Geneva
8launches within 12 mi
6shore sites within 15 mi
6shops within 15 mi

Census 2020 population and Gazetteer point for Auburn; miles are straight lines.

Lakes

The nearest paged lakes to Auburn

LakeDistanceAcresLaunchesWDFW programFish WDFW maps
Lake Geneva3 miles west281Mixed species – Trout emphasisrainbow trout, largemouth bass, bluegill
North Lake4 miles west511Mixed species – Trout emphasisrainbow trout, largemouth bass, yellow perch
Lake Dolloff4 miles west201Mixed species – Trout emphasisrainbow trout, coastal cutthroat trout, largemouth bass
Holm Lake4 miles east201Mixed species – Trout emphasisrainbow trout, largemouth bass
Lake Killarney4 miles west291Mixed species – Warmwater emphasisrainbow trout, largemouth bass, brown bullhead
Fivemile Lake4 miles southwest360Mixed species – Trout emphasisrainbow trout, largemouth bass, bluegill

WDFW Fish Washington lowland and high lake layers (surface acres as published, management emphasis, mapped species); retrieved October 31, 2026.

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Marine water

Marine water within reach of Auburn

WaterKindDistanceLaunchesPiers and shoreMarine area
Tacoma-Vashon Island (Marine Area 11)WDFW marine area9 miles northwest0811
Commencement Bayregional marine water11 miles west0511
Colvos Passageregional marine water17 miles northwest0211
South Puget Sound (Marine Area 13)WDFW marine area20 miles west9413
Elliott Bayregional marine water22 miles north0510

Lake and river trips call for the Freshwater license: $39.95 if you live in Washington, $115.85 if you do not. For the sound and the coast, WDFW prices the Saltwater license at $40.71 resident and $81.70 nonresident.

WDFW Recreational Marine Areas, WDFW and State Parks marine launches, WDFW piers; retrieved October 31, 2026.

Rivers

Rivers and creeks by Auburn

  • White River (Pierce County)3 miles, SWIFD lists chinook, chum and coho, 9 USGS gauges, 71 mi in Washington
  • Puyallup River8 miles, SWIFD lists chinook, chum and coho, 1 mapped launch, 1 WDFW shore or access site, 6 USGS gauges, 44 mi in Washington
  • Duwamish River13 miles, SWIFD lists chinook, chum and coho, 2 USGS gauges, 5 mi in Washington
  • Green River (King County)14 miles, SWIFD lists chinook, chum and coho, 2 WDFW shore or access sites, 8 USGS gauges, 85 mi in Washington

Flow figures from gauges by Auburn

USGS gaugeLatest readingTime (ET)
Green River Near Auburn, Wa419 cfs, 57.20 ft gage heightNov 1 6:45 pm
White River At R Street Near Auburn, Wa352 cfs, 111.06 ft gage heightNov 1 6:45 pm
Big Soos Creek Above Hatchery Near Auburn, Wa30 cfs, 2.44 ft gage heightNov 1 7:15 pm

US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 1, 2026 7:38 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.

USGS NHD flowlines, WDFW SWIFD salmon and steelhead distribution, WDFW and State Parks launches and USGS gauges; retrieved October 31, 2026.

Map

Where to put in near Auburn, on a map

  • Lake Geneva boat launchLake Geneva, WDFW, 4 miles
  • Lake Killarney boat launchLake Killarney, WDFW, 4 miles
  • North Lake boat launchNorth Lake, WDFW, 4 miles
  • Lake Dolloff boat launchLake Dolloff, WDFW, 4 miles
  • Lake Holm boat launchHolm Lake, WDFW, 4 miles
  • Steel Lake boat launch on Steele LakeSteele Lake, City of Federal Way, 4 miles
  • Lake Meridian boat launchLake Meridian, WDFW, 5 miles
  • Lake Fenwick boat launchLake Fenwick, City of Kent, 5 miles

WDFW bank sites around Auburn

WDFW Facilities layer and the State Parks boat launch layer; retrieved October 31, 2026.

Stocked lakes

Recently stocked water near Auburn

LakeDistanceLatest 2026 plant
Lake Geneva3 milesRainbow, 5,200 fish at 2.5 per pound, April 15, 2026, Puyallup Hatchery
North Lake4 milesRainbow, 8,500 fish at 2.5 per pound, April 14, 2026, Puyallup Hatchery
Lake Dolloff4 milesRainbow, 1,800 fish at 2.4 per pound, May 6, 2026, Puyallup Hatchery
Holm Lake4 milesRainbow, 1,500 fish at 2.4 per pound, May 5, 2026, Puyallup Hatchery

These lakes appear in the 2026 WDFW trout plants report, newest plant shown.

WDFW Trout Plants report (rows January 2 to October 27, 2026), read October 31, 2026.

Local help

Fly shops, tackle and skippers around Auburn

Tackle shops a short hop from Auburn

  • Sportsman's Warehouse Federal Waysporting goods store, Federal Way, 5 miles
  • Dick's Sporting Goods Tukwilasporting goods store, Tukwila, 10 miles
  • Sportsman's Warehouse Puyallupsporting goods store, Puyallup, 11 miles
  • Dick's Sporting Goods Puyallupsporting goods store, Puyallup, 11 miles
  • Dick's Sporting Goods Tacomasporting goods store, Tacoma, 14 miles
  • Bass Pro Shops Tacomasporting goods store, Tacoma, 14 miles
  • Angle Maidenbait and tackle shop, Auburn
  • Tow Boat Seattlemarina, Auburn

Paid trips leaving Auburn

Yellow Pages and chain store listings (miles only for shops with an exact point), guide and charter listings; retrieved October 31, 2026.

Records

WDFW record catches from water by Auburn

SpeciesWeightWaterDate
Atlantic Salmon, sea-run14.38 lbsGreen River (King County)Sept. 22, 1999
Rock Bass1.38 lbsSteilacoom LakeJune 26, 1981
Black Crappie4.50 lbsLake WashingtonMay 1, 1956
Sockeye Salmon10.63 lbsLake WashingtonJuly 20, 1982
Cutthroat Trout, Coastal, sea-run6.00 lbsCarr InletMay 1, 1943

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) sport fish records list, as of October 31, 2026. Waters within 40 miles.

Regulations

Statewide rows for a Auburn stay

For lakes and rivers the Freshwater license costs $39.95 with Washington residency, $115.85 without it. Anglers working salt water buy the Saltwater license at $40.71 resident or $81.70 nonresident, unless a Combination license covers it. WDFW adds a catch record card for anyone keeping salmon, steelhead, sturgeon or halibut.

SpeciesLimitSeason
Largemouth BassNo min. size in lakes, ponds, and reservoirs. Only largemouth bass less than 12" may be retained, except 1 over 17" may be retained. Daily limit 5.Lakes, ponds, and reservoirs: year-round; rivers, streams and beaver ponds: Sat. before Memorial Day through Oct. 31
Largemouth BassNo size restriction/daily limit in rivers, streams, and beaver ponds.Lakes, ponds, and reservoirs: year-round; rivers, streams and beaver ponds: Sat. before Memorial Day through Oct. 31
Smallmouth BassNo min. size in lakes, ponds, and reservoirs. Only 1 smallmouth bass over 14" may be retained. Daily limit 10.Lakes, ponds, and reservoirs: year-round; rivers, streams and beaver ponds: Sat. before Memorial Day through Oct. 31
Smallmouth BassNo size restriction/daily limit in rivers, streams, and beaver ponds.Lakes, ponds, and reservoirs: year-round; rivers, streams and beaver ponds: Sat. before Memorial Day through Oct. 31
WalleyeMin. size 12" in lakes, ponds, and reservoirs. Daily limit 8. Only 1 over 22" may be retained. May be caught, retained, and released alive from a livewell until daily limit is in possession.Lakes, ponds, and reservoirs: year-round; rivers, streams and beaver ponds: Sat. before Memorial Day through Oct. 31
WalleyeNo size restriction/daily limit in rivers, streams, and beaver ponds.Lakes, ponds, and reservoirs: year-round; rivers, streams and beaver ponds: Sat. before Memorial Day through Oct. 31
Channel CatfishNo min. size in lakes, ponds, and reservoirs. Daily limit 5.Lakes, ponds, and reservoirs: year-round; rivers, streams and beaver ponds: Sat. before Memorial Day through Oct. 31
Channel CatfishNo min. size/daily limit in rivers, streams, and beaver ponds.Lakes, ponds, and reservoirs: year-round; rivers, streams and beaver ponds: Sat. before Memorial Day through Oct. 31
Burbot (Freshwater Ling)No min. size. Daily limit 5.Lakes, ponds, and reservoirs: year-round; rivers, streams and beaver ponds: Sat. before Memorial Day through Oct. 31 (p.23 general rule for
Crappie, Northern Pikeminnow, Peamouth Chub, Perch, Suckers, Sunfish, No min. size. No daily limit.Lakes, ponds, and reservoirs: year-round; rivers, streams and beaver ponds: Sat. before Memorial Day through Oct. 31
Grass CarpClosed unless otherwise listed in Special Rules.Closed
KokaneeNo min. size. Daily limit 10. When fishing with bait, all kokanee that are lawful to possess and are equal to or greater than the minimum size are counted as part of the daily limit whether kept or released.Lakes, ponds, and reservoirs: year-round; rivers, streams and beaver ponds: Sat. before Memorial Day through Oct. 31 (p.23 general rule for
Tiger Muskellunge (Tiger Muskie)Min. size 50". Daily limit 1.Lakes, ponds, and reservoirs: year-round; rivers, streams and beaver ponds: Sat. before Memorial Day through Oct. 31 (p.23 general rule for
WhitefishNo min. size. Daily limit 15.Lakes, ponds, and reservoirs: year-round; rivers, streams and beaver ponds: Sat. before Memorial Day through Oct. 31 (p.23 general rule for
SteelheadRelease all wild steelhead. Min. size 20". Daily limit 2. Open during salmon or game fish seasons unless as otherwise listed.Open during salmon or game fish seasons unless as otherwise listed
Brown Trout, Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout, Golden Trout, Tiger TroutIn rivers, streams, and beaver ponds: Min. size 8". Daily limit 2.Sat. before Memorial Day-Oct. 31 (statewide river season, p.23)

Limits and seasons as printed in the 2026-2027 Washington Sport Fishing Rules (WDFW pamphlet, in effect July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027), PDF page 27 (pamphlet PDF; eRegulations statewide freshwater page), read October 31, 2026. Lake, river and marine pages print any Special Rule or marine area table.

Nearby

Roads leading away from Auburn

Neighbour towns for a Auburn base

  • Algona2 miles
  • Pacific4 miles
  • Lake Holm4 miles
  • Lakeland South4 miles
  • Lakeland North4 miles

The Washington county around Auburn

  • King Countyseat: Seattle
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Photos

The shoreline country around Auburn, in pictures

Duwamish River, Washington
Duwamish River 13 mi
Photo: brewbooks, CC BY-SA 2.0
White River (Pierce County), Washington
White River (Pierce County) 2.9 mi
Photo: Marty B, CC BY-SA 2.0
Lake Washington, Washington
Lake Washington 21 mi
Photo: Doug Kerr, CC BY-SA 2.0
Puyallup River, Washington
Puyallup River 8.3 mi
Photo: brewbooks, CC BY-SA 2.0
Answers

Planning to fish around Auburn: what comes up

How far must Auburn anglers drive to a lake?

Lake Geneva, 3 miles west.

Which ramp do Auburn boaters tow to first?

Try Lake Geneva boat launch, 4 miles.

Where can Auburn kids cast from shore?

Dykstra on Green River, some 1 mile off.

Who sells eggs and jigs around Auburn?

Sportsman's Warehouse Federal Way lists a store 5 miles from the town point.

Where is the county guide for Auburn?

King County, Washington.

What does a Washington fishing license cost a Auburn visitor?

Expect $115.85 for a nonresident Freshwater license from WDFW. The sound and coast need a Saltwater license too.

Which lake close to Auburn holds the most acres?

North Lake covers 51 acres and sits 4 miles out.

What communities neighbour Auburn?

The nearest are Algona (2 miles), Pacific (4 miles) and Lake Holm (4 miles).

Where do Auburn anglers go for salmon on the salt?

Tacoma-Vashon Island (Marine Area 11), WDFW marine area, about 9 miles away.

What record catches came from around Auburn?

Atlantic Salmon, sea-run, 14.38 lbs, from Green River, King County.

Where can Auburn anglers find hatchery trout?

Lake Geneva, 3 miles away, is the closest lake with a 2026 WDFW plant.

Try the lakes and rivers by Auburn

Ramp pages open with the managing agency and a map link.