Fishing at Lils Lake, Klamath County, Oregon

• Overview

  Lils Lake sits within Klamath County in Oregon. It stands 6,004 feet above sea level. Surface area runs to about 3 acres — small enough to read in one session. It is a small entry by Klamath County standards. Nearest place of any size is Oakridge, 22 miles away. La Pine lies 31 miles off, Three Rivers another 37 miles. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Lils Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. County-wide records name rainbow trout, klamath largescale sucker, brook trout, yellow perch and sockeye salmon. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. Lils Lake responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 27°F in December up to 54°F in August. Temperature moves within a narrow band, and so does the fishing. In milder years the edges alone go, and the middle never sets. The cooler months are the comfortable ones to fish here. Expect Lils Lake to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. You can camp 80 yards off, which suits an early start. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Should this one be busy, Yoran Lake is 0.4 miles off. Check the position on Lils Lake before loading the car.