Fishing Lower Horse Lake in Deschutes County, Oregon

• Overview

  Lower Horse Lake sits within Deschutes County in Oregon. The bank is 4,603 feet above sea level. It covers about 15 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. Sunriver at 24 miles is the nearest place to stop. Then Three Rivers, 25 miles, and Sisters, 26 miles. Others close at hand: Middle Horse Lake roughly 0.5 miles, Moonlight Lake about 0.7 miles, Park Lake roughly 0.9 miles, Mile Lake about 1.1 miles and Marten Lake roughly 1.1 miles. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Lower Horse Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Open biodiversity records for Deschutes County list rainbow trout, brook trout, mountain whitefish, brown trout and largemouth bass. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. The shape of Lower Horse Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is 29°F to 56°F. The freeze here is occasional rather than annual. It is not guaranteed even in a cold spell, so check yourself. Late winter often fishes better here than midsummer does. It sets the rhythm of the year at Lower Horse Lake. Late summer often means an early start or nothing at all.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. Nothing formal is recorded here: no ramp, no car park, no marked path. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. For a change of water, Middle Horse Lake is 0.5 miles distant. For Lower Horse Lake in particular, ask before you travel.