Puppy Lake, Oregon: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Puppy Lake stands in Deschutes County, Oregon. It sits at 5,210 feet above sea level. It covers about 10 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. The nearest place of any size is Three Rivers, 23 miles away. The big place round here is Eugene, 60 miles distant. In the same area: Long Lake after 0.4 miles, Desane Lake about 0.5 miles, S Lake after 0.5 miles, Mac Lake about 0.6 miles and Merrill Lake after 0.7 miles. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Puppy Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Records held for Deschutes County cover rainbow trout, brook trout and mountain whitefish. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. Anyone new to Puppy Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 27°F to 57°F. Conditions shift steadily rather than sharply. Hard water here is never dependable, so check for yourself before stepping out. February into May fishes hardest as the water warms. At Puppy Lake the season follows that pattern closely. As the season turns, fish follow food rather than temperature alone.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. A campsite is mapped about half a mile away, which makes an early start easier. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Should this one be busy, Long Lake is 0.4 miles off. Where Puppy Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.