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Great Fishing In Oregon

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Guide to fishing in the Beaver State

By AA-Fishing Staff Writers

  • Agency Lake
  • Brownlee Reservoir
  • Crane Prairie Reservoir
  • Crescent Lake
  • Davis Lake
  • Detroit Lake
  • Diamond Lake
  • Fern Ridge Reservoir
  • Green Peter Lake
  • Lake Billy Chinook
  • Odell Lake
  • Prineville Reservoir
  • Siltcoos Lake
  • Upper Klamath Lake
  • Wickiup Reservoir

Oregon offers a rich and diverse fishing experience, with a wide variety of fish species and fishing environments to explore. Whether you prefer warm water fisheries or cold water fisheries, ponds, lakes, or rivers, the state has something to offer for every angler. The purpose of this page is to share basic information about the best fishing lakes in the state, plus the species found in each lake.

Warm water fisheries in Oregon provide excellent opportunities to target species such as bass, panfish, and catfish. Largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and spotted bass can be found in lakes and rivers throughout the state, providing exciting angling experiences. Anglers can also enjoy pursuing panfish species such as crappie, bluegill, and perch, which are known for their abundance and tasty fillets. Warm water fisheries are also home to catfish species like channel catfish and bullhead catfish, offering additional fishing options.

On the other hand, Oregon's cold water fisheries are renowned for their trout populations. The state is famous for its scenic rivers and lakes, which are regularly stocked with rainbow trout, brown trout, and brook trout. These cold water environments provide ideal conditions for trout to thrive, making them a favorite target for anglers. Fly fishing, spin fishing, and trolling are popular techniques employed to catch these beautiful and feisty fish.

Oregon's ponds, lakes, and rivers offer a wealth of fishing opportunities. Anglers can choose from a range of environments to suit their preferences. Lakes such as Crater Lake, Diamond Lake, and Odell Lake are popular destinations for anglers seeking trout and other cold water species. Reservoirs like Wickiup Reservoir, Tenmile Lakes, and Agency Lake offer a mix of warm water species, including bass, panfish, and catfish. Additionally, rivers such as the Deschutes River, Rogue River, and Umpqua River provide exceptional fishing opportunities for both cold water and warm water species.

It is important for anglers to familiarize themselves with the fishing regulations and guidelines set by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. These regulations include size and bag limits, fishing seasons, and specific rules for certain water bodies. By adhering to these regulations, anglers can help preserve the health and sustainability of the fish populations and ensure a positive fishing experience for all.

Whether you're fishing in the peaceful serenity of a pond, the vastness of a lake, or the rushing waters of a river, Oregon's fishing destinations offer a diverse range of species and fishing experiences. With its scenic beauty and abundant fish populations, Oregon provides an angler's paradise that caters to all fishing preferences and skill levels.

Fishing Boats For Rent In Oregon

The countryside of Oregon offers excellent trout and salmon fishing in streams, rivers, ponds, lakes and reservoirs.There are also plenty of opportunities for bass, crappie and walleye fishing. Ice fishing is popular in winter at many of these fisheries.

Here, you can fish for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, channel catfish, flathead catfish, white catfish, black crappie, white crappie, walleye, steelhead, rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, brook trout, brown trout, golden trout, lake trout (mackinaw), bluegill, green sunfish, redear sunfish, warmouth, yellow perch, coho salmon, chum salmon, chinook salmon, kokanee salmon, stripers and sturgeon in local lakes, rivers, ponds and/or streams.

Major Oregon Lakes & Species

Oregon major lakes and fish chart

Lake & Fish Chart

This chart shows the major angling destinations, cross referencing these waters with the major species to be found in each of the lakes or impoundments.

For a detailed list of primary fish species in OR, plus state fish records, see the list below.

Fishing lake sizes and locations in the state.

Agency Lake is a 7,200-acre lake in the southwest part of the state, at Chiloquin.

Aspen Lake is a 2,500-acre lake in the southwest part of the state, 10 miles west of Klamath Falls.

Beulah Reservoir is a 1,900-acre lake in the east-central part of the state, 10 miles north of Juntura.

Bluejoint Lake is a 4,800-acre lake in the south-central part of the state, 20 miles north of Plush.

Brownlee Reservoir is a 57-mile long lake on the eastern border of the state, at Huntington.

Crane Prairie Reservoir is a 5,000-acre lake in the central part of the state, 15 miles west of Sunriver.

Crater Lake is a 15,000-acre lake in the southwest part of the state, at Crater Lake National Park.

Crescent Lake is a 4,000-acre lake in the west-central part of the state, at Crescent Lake.

Crump Lake is a 3,200-acre lake in the south-central part of the state, at Adel.

Davis Lake is a 3,000-acre lake in the west-central part of the state, 8 miles west of Gilchrist.

Detroit Lake is a 3,500-acre lake in the northwest part of the state, at Detroit.

Diamond Lake is a 2,800-acre lake in southwest OR, at the town of Diamond Lake.

Drews Reservoir is a 1,900-acre lake in the south-central part of the state, 10 miles west of Lakeview.

Fern Ridge Reservoir is a 9,000-acre lake in the west-central part of the state, at Elmira.

Green Peter Lake is a 4,000-acre lake in the west-central part of the state, 6 miles northeast of Foster.

Hart Lake is a 10,000-acre lake in the south-central part of the state, at Plush.

Lake Billy Chinook is a 3,900-acre lake in the central part of the state, at Culver.

Lake Owyhee is a 14,000-acre lake in the east-central part of the state, 10 miles southwest of Adrian.

Odell Lake is a 3,600-acre lake in the west-central part of the state, 3 miles north of Crescent Lake.

Phillips Lake is a 2,200-acre lake in the northeast part of the state, 10 miles southwest of Baker City.

Prineville Reservoir is a 3,000-acre lake in the central part of the state, 10 miles south of Prineville.

Siltcoos Lake is a 3,200-acre lake in the west-central part of the state, at Dunes City.

Tahkenitch Lake is a 1,600-acre lake in the west-central part of the state, at Gardiner.

Tenmile Lakes is a 2,000-acre series of lakes in the west-central part of the state, at Lakeside.

Upper Klamath Lake is a 61,000-acre lake in the southwest part of the state, at Chiloquin.

Waldo Lake is a 6,300-acre lake in the west-central part of the state, 15 miles north of Crescent Lake.

Warm Springs Reservoir is a 4,600-acre lake in the east-central part of the state, 10 miles southwest of Juntura.

Wickiup Reservoir is an 11,000-acre lake in the west-central part of the state, ten miles miles west of La Pine.

Fish Species & State Records in Oregon

Bass

Largemouth Bass

Largemouth bass

World record: 22 lbs 4 oz

State Record: 12 lbs 1.6 oz

Smallmouth Bass

Smallmouth bass

World record: 11 lbs 15 oz

State Record: 8 lbs 1.76 oz

Catfish

Channel Catfish

Channel catfish

World record: 58 lbs 0 oz

State Record: 36 lbs 8 oz

Flathead Catfish

Flathead catfish

World record: 123 lbs 9 oz

State Record: 42 lbs 0 oz

White Catfish

White catfish

World record: 22 lbs 0 oz

State Record: 15 lbs 0 oz

Crappie

Black Crappie

Black crappie

World record: 6 lbs 0 oz

State Record: 4 lbs 0 oz

White Crappie

White crappie

World record: 5 lbs 3 oz

State Record: 4 lbs 12 oz

Walleye

Walleye

Walleye

World record: 25 lbs 0 oz

State Record: 19 lbs 15.3 oz

Trout

Rainbow Trout

Rainbow trout

World record: 42 lbs 2 oz

State Record: 28 lbs 0 oz

Cutthroat Trout

Cutthroat trout

World record: 41 lbs 0 oz

State Record: 9 lbs 8 oz

Brook Trout

Brook trout

World record: 14 lbs 8 oz

State Record: 9 lbs 6 oz

Brown Trout

Brown trout

World record: 40 lbs 4 oz

State Record: 28 lbs 5 oz

Lake Trout

Lake trout (Mackinaw)

World record: 72 lbs 0 oz

State Record: 40 lbs 8 oz

Golden Trout

Golden trout

World record: 11 lbs 4 oz

State Record: 7 lbs 10 oz

Steelhead

Steelhead Fishing

Steelhead

World record: 42 lbs 0 oz

State Record: 35 lbs 8 oz

Panfish

Bluegill

Bluegill

World record: 4 lbs 12 oz

State Record: 2 lbs 5.5 oz

Green Sunfish

Green sunfish

World record: 2.2 lbs

State Record: 0 lbs 11 oz

Pumpkinseed Sunfish

Pumpkinseed sunfish

World record: 2 lbs 4 oz

State Record: 0 lbs 7.68 oz

Redear Sunfish

Redear sunfish

World record: 5.4 lbs

State Record: 1 lbs 15.5 oz

Warmouth

Warmouth

World record: 2.4 lbs

State Record: 1 lbs 14.2 oz

Yellow Perch

Yellow perch

World record: 4 lbs 3 oz

State Record: 2 lbs 2 oz

Salmon

Chinook Salmon

Chinook salmon

World record: 97 lbs 4 oz

State Record: 83.0 lbs

Chum Salmon

Chum salmon

World record: 35 lbs 0 oz

State Record: 23.0 lbs

Coho Salmon

Coho salmon

World record: 33 lbs 7 oz

State Record: 25 lbs 5.25 oz

Kokanee Salmon

Kokanee salmon

World record: 9 lbs 10 oz

State Record: 9 lbs 10.72 oz

Striped bass

Striped Bass

Stripers

Inland world record: 64 lbs 8 oz

State Record: 68 lbs 0 oz

Hybrid Striped Bass

Hybrid Striper (Wiper)

World record: 27 lbs 5 oz

State Record: 19 lbs 12 oz

Other species

Sturgeon

Sturgeon

Estimated world record: 1,100 lbs

State Record: Not applicable.

Click the images and links above for species details.

Fishing Licenses

Visit the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife for OR fishing information. Click here to acquire an Oregon Fishing License.

Oregon Fishing Guides

We are also looking for information on local guides who offer services within Oregon. You can find a listing of OR fishing guides here. If you are a fishing guide in Oregon, or know of a good resource, please send us information for consideration.

There is a very special section dedicated to activities for kids in OR.

Lodging & Boating In Oregon

Bass fishing book

Fish for big bass

Quality largemouth bass and smallmouth bass fishing opportunities are available to anglers.

 

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