Bounds Reservoir Fishing near Ashland, Oregon

• Overview

  Bounds Reservoir lies in Jackson County, in Oregon. It sits in pine and hardwood. It covers about 12 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. The nearest town is Ashland, 5.3 miles away. For a city, Eugene is 132 miles off. Others within reach: Emigrant Lake 1.2 miles away, Chapman Lake (2.1 miles), Reeder Reservoir 5.4 miles away, Little Hyatt Reservoir (6.5 miles) and Billings Reservoir 6.5 miles away. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Bounds Reservoir

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. Levels move with the draw rather than the rain on water like this. Across Jackson County, recorded fish include rainbow trout, black crappie, largemouth bass and brown bullhead. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. Anyone new to Bounds Reservoir should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is 38°F to 69°F. The surface stays open the year round. October and November give a second good stretch as it cools. February into May fishes hardest as the water warms. That shapes the year on Bounds Reservoir. Settled weather over several days beats a single fine one.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. A boat ramp sits half a mile away, so trailered boats can get on. You can camp about half a mile away, going by the mapping. Facilities run to toilets half a mile from the water. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Should this one be busy, Emigrant Lake is 1.2 miles off. Where Bounds Reservoir is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.