Rhody Lake Fishing near Mill City, Oregon

• Overview

  In Oregon, Rhody Lake belongs to Marion County. It sits at 3,694 feet above sea level. The water measures roughly 5 acres, so nothing here is far from anything else. Mill City lies 10 miles from the water. Salem is the closest city, 31 miles away. Others within reach: Corbia Lake (6.8 miles), Elkhorn Lake at about 6.9 miles, Joyce Lake (8.7 miles), Betty Jane Deardorff Reservoir at about 10 miles and Opal Lake (12 miles). It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Rhody Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Fish documented in Marion County include bluegill, largemouth bass, largescale sucker and rainbow trout. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. Rhody Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 60°F in August and bottom out at 36°F in December. The freeze here is occasional rather than annual. In milder years the edges alone go, and the middle never sets. Spring and autumn carry the year; summer squeezes it into the ends of the day. At Rhody Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. The nearest car park is 170 yards from the water. There is camping recorded roughly 140 yards off. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. A phone call first saves an afternoon. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. Corbia Lake sits 6.8 miles off and takes the overflow. Ask locally about Rhody Lake if anything is unclear.