Moonlight Lake Fishing Guide, Deschutes County, Oregon

• Overview

  Moonlight Lake is a Deschutes County water, in Oregon. The country here is rolling hill. At 5 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. Head to Sunriver, 25 miles away, for anything you forgot. Then Three Rivers, 25 miles, and Sisters, 26 miles. Others within reach: Lower Horse Lake lies 0.7 miles on, Middle Horse Lake out at 1.2 miles, Park Lake lies 1.6 miles on, Mile Lake out at 1.7 miles and Marten Lake lies 1.7 miles on. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Moonlight Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Species logged across Deschutes County include rainbow trout, brook trout and mountain whitefish. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. At Moonlight Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate records put August near 56°F and December near 29°F. Most months fish reasonably, given the right weather. In a normal year the cover is thin and short-lived. November and March are the quiet, comfortable months to be out. Moonlight Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. There is no recorded infrastructure here; expect to find your own way in. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. The nearest alternative is Lower Horse Lake, 0.7 miles out. Signs at Moonlight Lake carry more weight than any list.