Berger Lake Fishing near Salem, Oregon

• Overview

  Berger Lake belongs to Marion County, Oregon. The bank is 344 feet above sea level. At 4 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. Salem sits 2.8 miles from here and is the nearest stop. Salem is the closest city, 3.1 miles away. Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing. One side gets the morning sun and the other the evening.

• Where to Fish on Berger Lake

  No depth figure appears in our records, so the bank has to tell you. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. Fish documented in Marion County include bluegill, largemouth bass, largescale sucker, rainbow trout and cutthroat trout. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. At Berger Lake the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 40°F in December up to 66°F in August. Winter is the comfortable season here rather than the difficult one. March through May is the strongest run, with autumn a second stretch. February into May fishes hardest as the water warms. It holds true on Berger Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. The approach is tagged private, which usually means permission is needed. Mapping shows parking within half a mile. A picnic area is mapped about half a mile away. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Stone Quarry Lake at 1.8 miles is the sensible second choice. Treat access at Berger Lake as something to verify.