Second Lake Fishing Guide, Benton County, Oregon

• Overview

  Second Lake is one of the Benton County waters in Oregon. The setting is oak and grass. It measures about 50 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. It is the biggest water on our Benton County list. Head to Millersburg, 2 miles away, for anything you forgot. Albany is 2.1 miles and Jefferson 5.5 miles. Local rules may differ a few miles either side of here.

• Where to Fish on Second Lake

  Depth is not on record here, which means reading the ground instead. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Survey and observation records for Benton County include largescale sucker, bluegill, cutthroat trout and largemouth bass. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Second Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 40°F to 67°F. The year never really closes; it just gets uncomfortable in summer. March through May is the strongest run, with autumn a second stretch. The cooler months are the comfortable ones to fish here. Second Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. The nearest car park we can see is half a mile out, so expect a walk with your gear. A pier or jetty stands half a mile away, which helps on a crowded bank. Somewhere to sit and eat is half a mile out. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. For a change of water, First Lake is 0.4 miles distant. Ask locally about Second Lake if anything is unclear.