Hobart Lake Fishing in Jackson County, Oregon

• Overview

  Hobart Lake is a Jackson County water, Oregon side. The surface lies 4,790 feet up. Surface area runs to about 12 acres — small enough to read in one session. Ashland lies 13 miles from the water. Talent follows at 19 miles, then Phoenix at 21 miles. Alternatives close at hand: Keene Creek Reservoir 2.3 miles away, Little Hyatt Reservoir lies 4.3 miles on, Hyatt Reservoir 6.3 miles away, Emigrant Lake lies 7.2 miles on and Chapman Lake 8 miles away. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Hobart Lake

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Fish documented in Jackson County include rainbow trout, black crappie, largemouth bass, brown bullhead and bluegill. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. The shape of Hobart Lake decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 62°F in August and bottom out at 32°F in December. Mild ends to the year keep the season long. It is not guaranteed from one year to the next. February into May fishes hardest as the water warms. Hobart Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out. Autumn cools the shallows first, so work deeper as it goes on.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. The car has to stay 0.9 miles away, which shapes how much tackle you bring. There are toilets 0.9 miles off. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Keene Creek Reservoir, 2.3 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. The position on Hobart Lake is worth confirming on the day.