Skookum Lake in Clackamas County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Clackamas County in Oregon is where Skookum Lake sits. The land about it is rolling hill. It covers about 2 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Clackamas County. Estacada sits 22 miles from the bank. After that come Molalla at 23 miles and Mill City at 23 miles. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Skookum Lake

  No chart reached our records; the first cast is your sounding. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Across Clackamas County, recorded fish include Coho salmon, rainbow trout, Chinook salmon, cutthroat trout and smallmouth bass. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. On Skookum Lake the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 33°F in January to roughly 60°F in August. In milder years the surface never sets. It is not guaranteed even in a cold spell, so check yourself. Late winter often fishes better here than midsummer does. It holds true on Skookum Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. The car has to stay half a mile away, which shapes how much tackle you bring. You can camp 100 yards off, which suits an early start. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Joyce Lake sits 5.5 miles off and takes the overflow. Confirm before you fish Skookum Lake.