Fishing at Beale Lake, Coos County, Oregon

• Overview

  Look for Beale Lake in the Coos County part of Oregon. Tidal water begins 2.9 miles from here. The water covers some 54 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. At about 3.1 miles of edge, most people work one arm at a time. It is low-lying compared with other Oregon water we list. 5.7 miles away sits Lakeside, the nearest town. Then North Bend, 6.8 miles, and Coos Bay, 9.6 miles. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Beale Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. This is tidal water: the state of the tide decides where fish sit, so plan the session around it. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. On Beale Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 60°F at the top of summer and 46°F at the bottom of winter. Ice comes and goes from one year to the next. It should never be assumed safe, whatever the month says. The cooler months are the comfortable ones to fish here. That is the shape of the year on Beale Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. No made access is recorded, so a short walk in is the likely arrangement. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. The nearest alternative is Butterfield Lake, 1.1 miles out. Confirm access to Beale Lake locally before you travel.