Fishing at Clear Lake, Clackamas County, Oregon

• Overview

  Clear Lake sits in Clackamas County, out in Oregon. The surface lies 3,501 feet up. This is sizeable water at about 435 acres, and a boat opens up most of it. The margin runs to about 6.3 miles in total. It ranks high for size among our Clackamas County listings. Nearest place of any size is Mount Hood Village, 18 miles away. Beyond it, Sandy at 31 miles and Estacada at 31 miles. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Clear Lake

  Depth remains unrecorded, so treat the first session as a survey. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. Species logged across Clackamas County include Coho salmon, rainbow trout, Chinook salmon, cutthroat trout and smallmouth bass. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. At Clear Lake the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put August at about 58°F and January near 29°F. The season stretches long at both ends here. Some winters give nothing at all, so plan for open water. March through May is the strongest run, with October and November a second stretch. At Clear Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. You can leave the car about half a mile from the water. There is a pier recorded roughly half a mile away. A campsite lies half a mile away for anyone staying over. There are toilets half a mile off. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. If the gate is shut, Frog Lake at 2.7 miles is the nearest alternative. For Clear Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.