Fishing Big Finger Lake in Deschutes County, Oregon

• Overview

  Look for Big Finger Lake in Deschutes County, Oregon. This is farm and woodlot country. At 3 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. For supplies, Three Rivers is 22 miles out. For a city, Eugene is 60 miles off. Close neighbours run: 0.2 miles out stands Little Finger Lake, Snowshoe Lake 0.3 miles away, 0.7 miles out stands Winopee Lake, Upper Snowshoe Lake 0.9 miles away and 1.3 miles out stands Long Lake. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Big Finger Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Records held for Deschutes County cover rainbow trout, brook trout, mountain whitefish and brown trout. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. Fish Big Finger Lake where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 57°F in August and bottom out at 27°F in December. The year gives four workable seasons without severe ends. Hard water here is never dependable, so check for yourself before stepping out. April and May are the settled weeks, with October close behind. Plan around that when you fish Big Finger Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. Mapping records no facilities at all near this water. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Little Finger Lake at 0.2 miles is the sensible second choice. Check the position at Big Finger Lake before loading the car.