Fishing Hoekstre Reservoir in Polk County, Oregon

• Overview

  The Polk County entry here is Hoekstre Reservoir, in Oregon. The bank is 203 feet above sea level. Small at around 2 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. Most waters listed here for Polk County are larger. 5.5 miles away sits Dallas, the nearest town. Further out sit Sheridan (7.6 miles) and Willamina (9.1 miles). There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Hoekstre Reservoir

  No chart reached our records; the first cast is your sounding. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Survey and observation records for Polk County include bluegill, largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. The shape of Hoekstre Reservoir rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 39°F in December up to 64°F in August. There is no frozen season to plan round. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer squeezes it into the edges of the day. March through May is the strongest run, with October and November a second stretch. On Hoekstre Reservoir the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Classen Reservoir at 0.9 miles is the sensible second choice. Rules at Hoekstre Reservoir are worth checking on the day.