Fishing at Klickitat Lake, Lincoln County, Oregon

• Overview

  Out in Lincoln County, Oregon, sits Klickitat Lake. Land around it is mixed woodland. About 12 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. For supplies, Philomath is 15 miles out. Toledo is 17 miles away, with Corvallis at 20 miles. Nearby, in order: Thompson Lake 6.7 miles away, Thissell Pond roughly 7.1 miles, North Fork Reservoir 8.8 miles away, WOW Log Pond roughly 13 miles and Hull-Oakes Log Pond 15 miles away. Local rules may differ a few miles either side of here.

• Where to Fish on Klickitat Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Across Lincoln County, recorded fish include rainbow trout, flathead grey mullet and Coho salmon. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. At Klickitat Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 61°F for August and 40°F for December. In milder years the surface never sets. In a normal year the cover is thin and short-lived. June to September is hot work, so the first and last hours are what count. It sets the rhythm of the year at Klickitat Lake. Water colour tells you more than the air temperature does.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. There is no mapped parking or launch nearby, which keeps numbers down. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. If the gate is shut, Thompson Lake at 6.7 miles is the nearest alternative. The position on Klickitat Lake is worth confirming on the day.