Meadow Lake in Deschutes County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Meadow Lake lies in Deschutes County, Oregon. The water sits 4,416 feet up. This is a pocket water of some 18 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. 15 miles away sits Sisters, the nearest town. Further out sit Culver (31 miles) and Terrebonne (31 miles). Others within reach: Sand Camp Lake after 0.3 miles, Dollar Nine Lake just 0.4 miles, Bone Lake after 0.4 miles, Peewee Lake just 0.6 miles and Link Lake after 0.8 miles. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Meadow Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Fish documented in Deschutes County include rainbow trout, brook trout and mountain whitefish. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. At Meadow Lake the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year August sits at 58°F and January at 28°F. A lid forms in a hard winter only. Some winters give nothing at all, so plan for open water. Spring and autumn carry the year; summer squeezes it into the ends of the day. At Meadow Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. Mapping shows no built access close by; expect to walk in from wherever you can leave the car. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. Should this one be busy, Sand Camp Lake is 0.3 miles off. Check the position at Meadow Lake before loading the car.