Fishing O'Keefe Reservoir in Lake County, Oregon

• Overview

  O'Keefe Reservoir is one of the Lake County listings for Oregon. The country round it is mixed woodland from end to end. Surface area runs to about 19 acres — small enough to read in one session. Compared with other Oregon water on our list, it sits high. Start from Lakeview, 33 miles down the road. Beyond it, Alturas at 70 miles and Hines at 94 miles. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on O'Keefe Reservoir

  We hold no depth figure for this one. Inflow corners move water, and moving water gathers fish. Built water gives depth close in, which suits a bank angler. County-wide records name rainbow trout, Sacramento sucker, warner sucker and brown bullhead. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. On O'Keefe Reservoir the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect August to average close to 65°F, with January the cold end at about 29°F. A lid forms in a hard winter only. It should never be assumed safe, whatever the month says. June to September is hot work, so the first and last hours are what count. It holds true on O'Keefe Reservoir more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. This one is mapped as intermittent, so a wasted trip is a real risk in a dry year. Mapping records no facilities at all near this water. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. The nearest alternative is May Lake, 0.8 miles out. Signs at O'Keefe Reservoir carry more weight than any list.