Ashes Lake in Hood River County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  You will find Ashes Lake in Hood River County, Oregon. The bank is 62 feet above sea level. At about 61 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. It lies lower than most water we list in Oregon. Cascade Locks sits 1.1 miles from the bank. The nearest city of size is Gresham, 28 miles away. The county line runs close by, so rules can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Ashes Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Records held for Hood River County cover Coho salmon, Chinook salmon, largemouth bass, bluegill and black crappie. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. The shape of Ashes Lake decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 66°F for August and 36°F for January. The year never really closes; it just gets uncomfortable in summer. Late winter and spring fish steadiest here. June to September is hot work, so the first and last hours are what count. Plan any trip to Ashes Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. A carry of 0.9 miles from the nearest parking is the price of fishing here. A pier 0.9 miles from here gives a platform over deeper water. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. If the gate is shut, Little Ashes Lake at 0.3 miles is the nearest alternative. Ask locally about Ashes Lake if anything is unclear.