Fishing at Bull Run Reservoir Number One, Clackamas County, Oregon

• Overview

  Bull Run Reservoir Number One is a Clackamas County water, Oregon side. It sits at 1,060 feet above sea level. At 426 acres this is proper open water rather than a pond. Around 4.6 miles of bank, which is a long day on foot. On our Clackamas County list it sits near the top for size. Mount Hood Village sits 9.9 miles from the bank. It is 18 miles to Gresham, the nearest city. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Bull Run Reservoir Number One

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Survey and observation records for Clackamas County include 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. On Bull Run Reservoir Number One the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 36°F in December to roughly 62°F in August. The year turns gently, without extremes at either end. It is not guaranteed even in a cold spell, so check yourself. February into May fishes hardest as the water warms. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Bull Run Reservoir Number One.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. No slipway, car park or made path shows up nearby in mapping, so treat access as rough. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. South Fork Bull Run River, 3.9 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Treat access at Bull Run Reservoir Number One as something to verify.