Fishing at Upper Pine Lake, Baker County, Oregon

• Overview

  Upper Pine Lake is set in Baker County, Oregon. It stands 7,559 feet above sea level. At 16 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. It sits higher than most water we list in Oregon. Head to Joseph, 22 miles away, for anything you forgot. The nearest city of size is Boise, 111 miles away. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Upper Pine Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Open biodiversity records for Baker County list rainbow trout, brook trout, bluegill, flathead catfish and smallmouth bass. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. Treat Upper Pine Lake as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 55°F for August and 22°F for December. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly early May. The water is typically free of ice between early May and late November. Early summer and early autumn carry the open-water season. The season on Upper Pine Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. There is no mapped parking or launch close by, which usually means walking in. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Should this one be busy, Lower Pine Lake is 0.2 miles off. Ask locally about Upper Pine Lake if anything is unclear.