Rainy Lake Fishing Guide, Hood River County, Oregon

• Overview

  Rainy Lake falls in Hood River County, part of Oregon. The country round it is farm and woodlot from end to end. Small at around 9 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. Some 6.9 miles away sits Cascade Locks, the nearest settlement. The nearest city of size is Gresham, 34 miles away. Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on Rainy Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Hood River County records list Coho salmon, Chinook salmon and largemouth bass among the fish reported. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. On Rainy Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  August is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 60°F, while January sits near 31°F. The freeze here is occasional rather than annual. It is not guaranteed from one year to the next. November and March are the quiet, comfortable months to be out. Expect Rainy Lake to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. Rainy Lake Trailhead holds the nearest mapped parking, half a mile out. Mapping shows a campsite some half a mile from the water. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Black Lake, 0.8 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Treat Rainy Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.