Barney Waterhole in Lake County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Barney Waterhole lies in Lake County, Oregon. The ground around here is open dry country. At 18 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. The town to know is Lakeview, 53 miles out. Hines is 62 miles and Burns 64 miles. Other water within reach: Aspen Reservoir 8.7 miles away, Bluejoint Lake lies 9.1 miles on, Turpin Lake 12 miles away, Canterbury Reservoir lies 12 miles on and Stone Corral Lake 13 miles away. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Barney Waterhole

  A salt basin rather than a fishing lake: treat this page as orientation, not an invitation. For long stretches it is a dry bed rather than a lake, filling only after exceptional rain. If you are set on fishing this area, look to the rivers and fresh waters nearby instead. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. The shape of Barney Waterhole decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between December at about 30°F and August at about 67°F, the water has a wide range to work through. A long season, with weather mattering more than the month. Some winters give nothing at all, so plan for open water. April and May are the settled weeks, with October close behind. Barney Waterhole fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. This one is mapped as intermittent, so a wasted trip is a real risk in a dry year. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Aspen Reservoir at 8.7 miles is the sensible second choice. For Barney Waterhole in particular, ask before you travel.