Fishing at Goodrich Lake, Baker County, Oregon

• Overview

  Out in Baker County, Oregon, sits Goodrich Lake. The water sits 6,847 feet up. It covers about 19 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. Compared with other Oregon water on our list, it sits high. The nearest town is Baker City, 11 miles away. For a city, Tri-Cities is 114 miles off. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Goodrich Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Records held for Baker County cover rainbow trout, brook trout, bluegill, flathead catfish and smallmouth bass. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. Take Goodrich Lake a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give August about 56°F and December about 23°F. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near early May. Open water usually runs from early May until about late November. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. On Goodrich Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. No launch point is recorded nearby, so this is a bank water unless you carry a boat in. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Failing this one, try Twin Lakes, 1.3 miles away. Treat Goodrich Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.