Smith Lake Fishing Guide, Multnomah County, Oregon

• Overview

  Set in Multnomah County, Oregon, this is Smith Lake. It sits at 3 feet above sea level. The water covers around 540 acres, which puts most of it out of reach from the bank. Around 4.8 miles of bank, which is a long day on foot. It is the biggest water on our Multnomah County list. Nearest place of any size is North Portland, 1.2 miles away. For a city, Vancouver is 3.7 miles off. This one sits near enough to a boundary to be worth checking.

• Where to Fish on Smith Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Records held for Multnomah County cover Chinook salmon, Coho salmon and rainbow trout. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. Take Smith Lake a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 67°F in August and bottom out at 40°F in January. Long warm spells define the calendar more than any cold. Late winter and spring fish steadiest here. March through May is the strongest run, with October and November a second stretch. On Smith Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Mapped as intermittent, it fills after rain and shrinks between. Recorded parking is half a mile off, far enough to travel light. There are picnic tables recorded roughly half a mile off. Toilets show in mapping about half a mile away. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. The nearest alternative is Bybee Lake, 1.1 miles out. Nothing on Smith Lake should be assumed from this page alone.