Fishing at Camp Cooper Reservoir, Tillamook County, Oregon

• Overview

  You will find Camp Cooper Reservoir in Tillamook County, Oregon. Beyond the shoreline you have farm and woodlot. On water this small, stealth matters more than range. Our Tillamook County list holds plenty of bigger water. Sheridan lies 12 miles from the water. For a city, Salem is 31 miles off. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Camp Cooper Reservoir

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Records held for Tillamook County cover rainbow trout, cutthroat trout and Coho salmon. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. The near bank of Camp Cooper Reservoir is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between December at about 38°F and August at about 60°F, the water has a wide range to work through. Seasons here are moderate, and the fishing runs most of the year. It is not guaranteed from one year to the next. June to September is hot work, so the first and last hours are what count. That is the shape of the year on Camp Cooper Reservoir.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. A platform or pier sits within 50 yards. You can camp half a mile off, which suits an early start. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. If the gate is shut, McGuire Reservoir at 6 miles is the nearest alternative. Rules at Camp Cooper Reservoir are worth checking on the day.