Franz Lake, Oregon: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Franz Lake is one of the Skamania County waters in Oregon. The water sits 7 feet up. Surface area is around 50 acres, which gives you real water without needing a boat. With about 1.3 miles of edge, you can try several depths in one session. It lies lower than most water we list in Oregon. Nearest place of any size is Cascade Locks, 10 miles away. For a city, Gresham is 19 miles off. The county line runs close by, so rules can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Franz Lake

  No chart reached our records; the first cast is your sounding. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. At Franz Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach. Rain comes to about 75 inches a year, with the wet end in December and the dry end in July.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate records put August near 65°F and January near 36°F. There is no frozen season to plan round. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer squeezes it into the edges of the day. June to September is hot work, so the first and last hours are what count. Plan around that when you fish Franz Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. There is a car park half a mile from the bank. Franz Lake National Wildlife Refuge covers ground next to the water; its rules will apply on that side. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Ridell Lake sits 2.9 miles off and takes the overflow. Nothing here settles the position at Franz Lake for certain.