Torrey Lake in Lane County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Lane County in Oregon is where Torrey Lake sits. It lies 5,282 feet above sea level. It runs to roughly 65 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. With about 1.2 miles of edge, you can try several depths in one session. For a base, Oakridge sits 22 miles out. The nearest city of size is Eugene, 56 miles away. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Torrey Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Across Lane County, recorded fish include rainbow trout, cutthroat trout and largescale sucker. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. Anyone new to Torrey Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year August sits at 57°F and December at 29°F. The freeze here is occasional rather than annual. In a normal year the cover is thin and short-lived. February into May fishes hardest as the water warms. That is the shape of the year on Torrey Lake. A steady wind fishes better than a still, bright day.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Mapping shows an empty shoreline: no ramp, no jetty, no marked entry. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. For a change of water, Whig Lake is 0.4 miles distant. Confirm before you fish Torrey Lake.