Fishing George Lake in Deschutes County, Oregon

• Overview

  George Lake lies in Deschutes County, in Oregon. The bank is 5,696 feet above sea level. About 6 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. The closest town, Sisters, is 14 miles away. Then Bend, 31 miles, and Terrebonne, 32 miles. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water. Most people fish the same few areas, which leaves the rest quiet.

• Where to Fish on George Lake

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Records held for Deschutes County cover rainbow trout, brook trout and mountain whitefish. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. Work George Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 27°F in December up to 57°F in August. The year turns gently, without extremes at either end. Some winters give nothing at all, so plan for open water. February into May fishes hardest as the water warms. Anyone fishing George Lake regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. No launch point is recorded nearby, so this is a bank water unless you carry a boat in. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. If the gate is shut, Dugout Lake at 3.1 miles is the nearest alternative. Where George Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.