Little Finger Lake Fishing in Deschutes County, Oregon

• Overview

  The Deschutes County end of Oregon holds Little Finger Lake. The surface lies 5,279 feet up. Small enough that any disturbance crosses the whole surface. It is a small entry by Deschutes County standards. Three Rivers lies 21 miles from the water. Sunriver follows at 22 miles, then La Pine at 25 miles. Also within reach: Big Finger Lake (0.2 miles), Snowshoe Lake 0.6 miles away, Winopee Lake (0.9 miles), Upper Snowshoe Lake 1.1 miles away and Long Lake (1.4 miles). The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Little Finger Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Species logged across Deschutes County include rainbow trout, brook trout and mountain whitefish. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. Little Finger Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  August runs about 57°F on average, December about 27°F. Ice comes and goes from one year to the next. It should never be assumed safe, whatever the month says. November and March are the quiet, comfortable months to be out. It sets the rhythm of the year at Little Finger Lake. Cloud cover is worth more than temperature on a bright week.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. We find no slipway, car park or made path within a short radius, so treat access as rough. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Failing this one, try Big Finger Lake, 0.2 miles away. Check the position on Little Finger Lake before loading the car.