Red Lake Fishing near Warm Springs, Oregon

• Overview

  Set in Wasco County, Oregon, this is Red Lake. The country here is mixed woodland. It covers about 3 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. Our Wasco County list holds plenty of bigger water. Head to Warm Springs, 17 miles away, for anything you forgot. Gresham is the closest city, 64 miles away. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Red Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. Survey and observation records for Wasco County include largemouth bass, bluegill, black crappie and walleye. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. At Red Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect August to average close to 65°F, with January the cold end at about 32°F. The calendar is generous: something works in nearly every month. It should never be assumed safe, whatever the month says. The cooler months are the comfortable ones to fish here. That is the shape of the year on Red Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. Mapping records no facilities at all near this water. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Failing this one, try Happy Valley Reservoir, 3.4 miles away. For Red Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.