Aaron Mercer Reservoir Fishing near Dallas, Oregon

• Overview

  In Oregon, Aaron Mercer Reservoir falls inside Polk County. This is pine and hardwood country. With some 55 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. Among the waters listed for Polk County, none is wider. Dallas lies 8.1 miles from the water. It is 22 miles to Salem, the nearest city. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Aaron Mercer Reservoir

  Depth remains unrecorded, so treat the first session as a survey. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Records held for Polk County cover bluegill, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, largescale sucker and cutthroat trout. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. The shape of Aaron Mercer Reservoir decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 39°F to 63°F. The year never really closes; it just gets uncomfortable in summer. Late winter and spring fish steadiest here. Late winter often fishes better here than midsummer does. Time your trip to Aaron Mercer Reservoir by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. No made access is recorded, so a short walk in is the likely arrangement. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Classen Reservoir at 8.5 miles is the sensible second choice. What applies at Aaron Mercer Reservoir may have changed since it was mapped.