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

• Overview

  In Oregon, Timothy Lake falls inside Clackamas County. What surrounds it is farm and woodlot. At some 1,400 acres it is far too large to cover on foot in a day. There is roughly 9.5 miles of bank, more than one visit can cover properly. Nothing else we list in Clackamas County covers more water. Mount Hood Village sits 19 miles from the bank. Further out sit Estacada (29 miles) and Sandy (30 miles). The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Timothy Lake

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Held water runs deepest at the wall and shallows back to the inflow. Survey and observation records for Clackamas County include Coho salmon, rainbow trout, Chinook salmon and cutthroat trout. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. Take Timothy Lake a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give August about 59°F and January about 29°F. Mild ends to the year keep the season long. In a normal year the cover is thin and short-lived. February into May fishes hardest as the water warms. It holds true on Timothy Lake more years than not. A grey, mild day is often better than a bright, still one.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. A boat ramp sits half a mile away, so trailered boats can get on. Overnight stays are possible about half a mile out, where camping is mapped. There is a toilet block some half a mile out. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. If the gate is shut, Clackamas Lake at 2.7 miles is the nearest alternative. Confirm before you fish Timothy Lake.