Fishing Wall Lake in Marion County, Oregon

• Overview

  Out in Marion County, Oregon, sits Wall Lake. The water sits 4,836 feet up. Surface area runs to about 6 acres — small enough to read in one session. The town to know is Warm Springs, 28 miles out. For a city, Gresham is 55 miles off. More in the same country: Sheep Lake within 0.2 miles, Averill Lake near enough 0.5 miles, Double Peaks Lake within 0.8 miles, Red Lake near enough 0.9 miles and Nekbobets Lake within 1.2 miles. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Wall Lake

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. County-wide records name bluegill, largemouth bass and largescale sucker. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. At Wall Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put August at about 58°F and December near 30°F. A lid forms in a hard winter only. In a normal year the cover is thin and short-lived. Late winter often fishes better here than midsummer does. The season on Wall Lake follows the weather closely. Fish feed harder before a change in weather than after it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Failing this one, try Sheep Lake, 0.2 miles away. For Wall Lake in particular, ask before you travel.