Fishing Betty Jane Deardorff Reservoir in Clackamas County, Oregon

• Overview

  Clackamas County, Oregon, is where Betty Jane Deardorff Reservoir sits. It sits at 1,230 feet above sea level. The water covers some 40 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. A shoreline of some 1.2 miles keeps the choices simple. It ranks high for size among our Clackamas County listings. The nearest town is Molalla, 10 miles away. For a city, Salem is 24 miles off. Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on Betty Jane Deardorff Reservoir

  Depth is not on record here, which means reading the ground instead. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Public occurrence data for Clackamas County names Coho salmon, rainbow trout, Chinook salmon, cutthroat trout and smallmouth bass. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. At Betty Jane Deardorff Reservoir the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 63°F in August and bottoms out near 39°F in January. The year never really closes; it just gets uncomfortable in summer. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer squeezes it into the edges of the day. Late winter often fishes better here than midsummer does. It sets the rhythm of the year at Betty Jane Deardorff Reservoir.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. For a change of water, Beyer Reservoir is 2.1 miles distant. Check the position at Betty Jane Deardorff Reservoir before loading the car.