Fall Fishing in the High Lakes

Fishing the high lakes in fall is one of the most-underrated fishing opportunities in Oregon. As the summer crowds dissipate back to school and work, the vine maple turns flame orange along the mountain passes and cool nights recharge cold-loving fish, it's the perfect time to grab your favorite fishing rod and make for the nearest trailhead.

If you like fall colors, both the leaf and the pre-spawning fish variety, then spending time at high mountain lakes from September through November might just be your new favorite pastime. Huckleberry bushes and Mountain ash start to turn crimson and bright red in the high Cascades in September, while Western larch trees turn a brilliant yellow in the Wallowa and Blue mountains in early October, so plan your fishing trips accordingly.

Where to fish in the Central Cascades

Gold Lake, 28 miles from Oakridge off Highway 58, might be the gold standard for fall fishing. If you're looking for peace and quiet after a busy summer, this fly-fishing only lake prohibits the use of motors other than electric motors for boaters, and it's the perfect spot to fish for Brook trout in their spawning colors that look like a Claude Monet painting.

Charlton and Waldo lakes are accessible by car and are stunning for scenery and clear, cold water. Both lakes offer opportunities for Brook trout and rainbow trout and the option of fly fishing or spin fishing.

If exploring bone-jarring dirt roads is your idea of getting away from it all, check out Olallie Lake, about 45 miles, as the crow flies, from Detroit Lake, for chunky rainbow trout stocked annually by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. Olallie Lake is also a great jumping off point for exploring many smaller high-mountain lakes nearby.

If you're looking for even more peace and quiet away from major highways, check out Marion Lake, the trailhead is 24 miles from Detroit Lake, with a 6.2-mile out-and-back hike into a superb high-mountain lake with excellent views of Three-fingered Jack. For even more backcountry goodness, check out the Eight Lakes Basin and Jefferson Park, both of which require a Central Cascades Wilderness Permit from Recreation.gov from June 15-October 15. Many wilderness lakes are stocked each year by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Other high lake hotspots in Oregon

The Wallowa mountains are popular in summer for a reason. Often dubbed "The Alps of Oregon," these pristine peaks in the Northeast corner of the state are a favorite backpacking and hiking destination with a ton of fishing opportunity, especially after the mosquitoes disappear in late summer and early fall. For some great fall rainbow trout fishing, check out Hobo Lake and Prospect and Swamp lakes, both of which are known for producing large rainbows. For that other fabulous fall color known as Brook trout, check out Glacier, Steamboat, Lookingglass, Crater and the John Henry lakes.

Magone lake, about 28 miles from John Day, in the Blue Mountains, is another great spot for both Western larch viewing and opportunities to catch colored-up Brook trout and rainbow trout.

Best fishing gear for the high lakes

The best fishing gear for fishing the high lakes in fall is whatever you have available, unless there are fly-fishing only restrictions. A standard 4 or 5 weight fly rod or a 6-7 foot, medium-heavy spinning rod should be perfect the medium to large trout of the high lakes. Either fly fishing or spin fishing are fantastic methods to catch fish in the high lakes in fall, but there are some things that work a little better this time of year when fish are stocking up on all the fat bugs they can before riding out the winter.

There's always more than one way to fish, and that includes fly fishing. If it's windy, or you don't have the right type of shoreline access to swing a fly line, consider fishing a fly behind a torpedo bobber. This technique has enticed many a big trout from its hiding place. The best flies to use for high lake fly fishing tend to mimic what's available in that season. Grasshopper patterns are perfect as summer starts to give way to fall, and old, classic patterns like wooly buggers and the Adams dry fly should be a staple in your trout fly box.

For fish feeding on the surface when bug activity picks up in the evening, try smaller flies that resemble mosquitoes or carpenter ants. During the heat of the day, try a sinking tip with a nymph, and if you could only have one fly to fish with, carry a midnight fire leech with you for your fall trip to the high mountains.

For spin fishing, spinners are fantastic, especially smaller, silver or gold bladed spinners in a 1/6 oz or ¼ oz size. If you can only have one spinner on hand for fishing the high lakes in the fall, carry some Panther martins with you.

With fewer people in the backcountry in the fall, it's a great time to get away from it all. Just remember to pack out what you pack in. Come prepared for quickly changing weather conditions, stay safe and have fun.

Photo by Kayla Sulak