Fishing at Strider Lake, Deschutes County, Oregon

• Overview

  In Oregon, Strider Lake falls inside Deschutes County. It stands 5,059 feet above sea level. Small at around 3 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. Supplies mean a trip to Three Rivers, 22 miles off. Eugene sits 61 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. Not far off: Raft Lake at 0.2 miles, Jay Lake after 0.4 miles, Harlequin Lake at 0.9 miles, East Hanks Lake after 1.1 miles and Lodgepole Lake at 1.2 miles. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Strider Lake

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Records held for Deschutes County cover rainbow trout, brook trout, mountain whitefish, brown trout and largemouth bass. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. Strider Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is 27°F to 57°F. The swings are modest, so patterns change slowly. In a normal year the cover is thin and short-lived. The cooler months are the comfortable ones to fish here. Plan any trip to Strider Lake around it. Early and late in the day beat the middle for most of the year.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. Nothing is listed nearby for parking or launching a boat. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. Failing this one, try Raft Lake, 0.2 miles away. Nothing here settles the position at Strider Lake for certain.