Lake of the Woods Fishing Guide, Linn County, Oregon

• Overview

  Look for Lake of the Woods in Linn County, Oregon. Country round the bank runs to open valley. At 5 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. Sisters lies 25 miles from the water. Salem is the closest city, 63 miles away. Alternatives close at hand: Whiskey Lake (0.2 miles), Sad Lake some 0.7 miles off, Swallow Lake (1.9 miles), Prill Lake some 2 miles off and Lake Ann (2 miles). The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Lake of the Woods

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Records held for Linn County cover rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, bluegill, largescale sucker and largemouth bass. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. At Lake of the Woods light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 57°F in August and bottom out at 30°F in December. The season stretches long at both ends here. Some winters give nothing at all, so plan for open water. Late winter often fishes better here than midsummer does. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Lake of the Woods.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. No built facilities appear in mapping around this water. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. If the gate is shut, Whiskey Lake at 0.2 miles is the nearest alternative. Where Lake of the Woods is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.