Schuetze Reservoir, Oregon: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  The Yamhill County entry here is Schuetze Reservoir, in Oregon. Everything around it is oak and grass. Small even by pond standards, it rewards one careful line. On size it sits at the modest end of our Yamhill County list. Lafayette sits 0.7 miles from the bank. Hillsboro is the closest city, 20 miles away. This one sits near enough to a boundary to be worth checking.

• Where to Fish on Schuetze Reservoir

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Across Yamhill County, recorded fish include largemouth bass, bluegill, white crappie and brown bullhead. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. Schuetze Reservoir gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect August to average close to 66°F, with December the cold end at about 40°F. Cooler months are the productive ones on most of this water. Shade and hour of day matter more than month. March through May is the strongest run, with October and November a second stretch. It holds true on Schuetze Reservoir more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. Expect a half a mile walk in from where the car goes. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Failing this one, try Kunz Reservoir, 0.5 miles away. Nothing here settles the position at Schuetze Reservoir for certain.