North Fork Reservoir Fishing in Clackamas County, Oregon

• Overview

  Look for North Fork Reservoir in the Clackamas County part of Oregon. The country round it is open plain from end to end. The water covers some 243 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. You are looking at roughly 4.8 miles of shoreline, with plenty of water between access points. Few waters listed in Clackamas County are bigger. Start from Estacada, 4.7 miles down the road. Beyond it, Sandy at 11 miles and Beavercreek at 13 miles. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on North Fork Reservoir

  Depth figures are not published for this one. Held water runs deepest at the wall and shallows back to the inflow. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. Clackamas County records list Coho salmon, rainbow trout, Chinook salmon, cutthroat trout and smallmouth bass among the fish reported. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. North Fork Reservoir gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, August reads 63°F and December reads 39°F. No part of the year shuts this water. Shade and hour of day matter more than month. Late winter often fishes better here than midsummer does. Plan any trip to North Fork Reservoir around it. Fish feed harder before a change in weather than after it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. A slipway half a mile out gives trailer access. Parking within half a mile means no long carry with tackle. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. For a change of water, Slow Springs Reservoir is 1.9 miles distant. Confirm access to North Fork Reservoir locally before you travel.