Wahkeena Rearing Lake Fishing near Washougal, Oregon

• Overview

  The Multnomah County entry here is Wahkeena Rearing Lake, in Oregon. It stands 52 feet above sea level. The water measures roughly 19 acres, so nothing here is far from anything else. Ground here is low by Oregon standards. The nearest town is Washougal, 11 miles away. The nearest city of size is Gresham, 16 miles away. Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on Wahkeena Rearing Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. Open biodiversity records for Multnomah County list Chinook salmon, Coho salmon and rainbow trout. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. Wahkeena Rearing Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is 36°F to 62°F. The freeze here is occasional rather than annual. Cover comes and goes, so treat it with suspicion rather than trust. April and May are the settled weeks, with October close behind. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Wahkeena Rearing Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. A parking area is marked roughly half a mile out. There are picnic tables half a mile away. A toilet block sits half a mile away. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Failing this one, try Franz Lake, 3.4 miles away. Treat access at Wahkeena Rearing Lake as something to verify.