Fishing Gnat Lake in Deschutes County, Oregon

• Overview

  Gnat Lake belongs to Deschutes County, Oregon. This is open valley country. At roughly 3 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. Most waters listed here for Deschutes County are larger. The closest town, Three Rivers, is 23 miles away. The nearest city of size is Eugene, 60 miles away. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Gnat Lake

  Depth remains unrecorded, so treat the first session as a survey. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Deschutes County records list rainbow trout, brook trout and mountain whitefish among the fish reported. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. Gnat Lake responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 27°F in December to roughly 56°F in August. The season stretches long at both ends here. In a normal year the cover is thin and short-lived. November and March are the quiet, comfortable months to be out. Time your trip to Gnat Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. Overnight stays are possible about half a mile out, where camping is mapped. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Should this one be busy, Copepod Lake is 0.2 miles off. Treat access at Gnat Lake as something to verify.