Benson Lake near Sisters: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Look for Benson Lake in the Lane County part of Oregon. Height above sea level is 5,194 feet. At roughly 19 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. Sisters at 19 miles is the nearest place to stop. Bend lies 32 miles off, Deschutes River Woods another 32 miles. More in the same country: Elf Lake 0.2 miles, Glaze Lake at 0.3 miles, Island Lake 0.7 miles, Coffee Lake at 1.1 miles and Scott Lake 1.2 miles. No boundary runs near, so the county rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Benson Lake

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Fish documented in Lane County include rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, largescale sucker, Coho salmon and Chinook salmon. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. On Benson Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  August is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 56°F, while December sits near 28°F. Temperature moves within a narrow band, and so does the fishing. Some winters give nothing at all, so plan for open water. Late winter often fishes better here than midsummer does. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Benson Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. Nothing is mapped in the way of a ramp or car park within a short radius. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. If the gate is shut, Elf Lake at 0.2 miles is the nearest alternative. Treat access at Benson Lake as something to verify.