Tombstone Lake Fishing in Union County, Oregon

• Overview

  You will find Tombstone Lake in Union County, Oregon. It lies 7,441 feet above sea level. The water measures roughly 12 acres, so nothing here is far from anything else. Compared with other Oregon water on our list, it sits high. The town to know is Joseph, 19 miles out. Tri-Cities sits 113 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Tombstone Lake

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Union County records list rainbow trout, brook trout, Chinook salmon, brown bullhead and black crappie among the fish reported. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. Read Tombstone Lake before you fish it and the day goes better.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 20°F in December and 53°F in August. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. After mid May the shallows warm and the fish move up. On the long-run averages the water opens up around mid May and starts locking again about mid November. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. Anyone fishing Tombstone Lake regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Mapping shows no built access close by; expect to walk in from wherever you can leave the car. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. The nearest alternative is Diamond Lake, 0.5 miles out. The position on Tombstone Lake is worth confirming on the day.