Yellowjacket Lake, Oregon: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Yellowjacket Lake lies in Grant County, Oregon. The surface lies 4,787 feet up. With some 33 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. Head to Burns, 23 miles away, for anything you forgot. Beyond it, Hines at 24 miles and John Day at 40 miles. Alternatives close at hand: Rickman Reservoir (8.5 miles), Officers Reservoir at 9.8 miles, Buffalo Lake (17 miles), Delintment Lake at 18 miles and Pronghorn Reservoir (20 miles). It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Yellowjacket Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. Built water gives depth close in, which suits a bank angler. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. Public occurrence data for Grant County names rainbow trout, bridgelip sucker, largescale sucker and smallmouth bass. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. Yellowjacket Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 25°F in January and 62°F in August. Seasons here are moderate, and the fishing runs most of the year. In a normal year the cover is thin and short-lived. March through May is the strongest run, with October and November a second stretch. That is the shape of the year on Yellowjacket Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. Overnight stays are possible half a mile away. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. Rickman Reservoir, 8.5 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Check the position on Yellowjacket Lake before loading the car.