Crawfish Lake Fishing in Baker County, Oregon

• Overview

  Crawfish Lake stands in Baker County, Oregon. The surroundings are mixed forest. At 16 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. It is high ground by Oregon standards. Baker City sits 24 miles from the bank. Beyond it, Union at 27 miles and La Grande at 28 miles. What else is close: Hoffer Lakes 1.7 miles off, Dutch Flat Lake (2.2 miles), Anthony Lake 2.4 miles off, Lilypad Lake (2.4 miles) and Black Lake 2.5 miles off. Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water.

• Where to Fish on Crawfish Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Across Baker County, recorded fish include rainbow trout, brook trout, bluegill, flathead catfish and smallmouth bass. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. Take Crawfish Lake a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect August to average close to 53°F, with December the cold end at about 22°F. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. Count the season from break-up, usually mid May. The open-water window runs from around mid May to about late November in an average year. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. The season on Crawfish Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. There is no mapped parking or launch close by, which usually means walking in. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Hoffer Lakes sits 1.7 miles off and takes the overflow. Confirm before you fish Crawfish Lake.