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Best rainbow trout lakes in Oregon

45 Oregon waters hold rainbow trout, 28 mapped with real state-agency depth surveys. Ranked below by size and depth-data quality — open any water to see exactly where to fish it: depth contours, scored spots with plain-English reasons, seasonal windows and bait picks. The classic stocked cold-water trout. Depth is everything: rainbows follow the temperature layer they like.

1. Agency Lake — 6 ft max · survey depth data · Rainbow TroutWhy #1: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 3 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
2. Crater Lake — 1947 ft max · survey depth data · Rainbow Trout, KokaneeWhy #2: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
3. Crane Prairie Reservoir — 15 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Rainbow TroutWhy #3: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 8 public access sites
4. Hart Lake — 9 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Rainbow TroutWhy #4: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
5. Howard Prairie Lake — 75 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow TroutWhy #5: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 6 public access sites
6. Cougar Reservoir — 400 ft max · survey depth data · Rainbow TroutWhy #6: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
7. Crescent Lake — 240 ft max · survey depth data · Rainbow TroutWhy #7: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 6 public access sites, 3 carry-in or shore-oriented
8. McKenzie River — 8 ft max · Rainbow Trout, Chinook Salmon, Cutthroat TroutWhy #8: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 11 public access sites
9. Waldo Lake — 148 ft max · Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch, Brown Trout, Brook TroutWhy #9: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
10. Beulah Reservoir — 90 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Yellow PerchWhy #10: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
11. Malheur Reservoir — 105 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow TroutWhy #11: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
12. Deschutes River (Lower) — 10 ft max · Rainbow Trout, SteelheadWhy #12: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 6 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
13. Bully Creek Reservoir — 75 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Rainbow TroutWhy #13: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
14. Fourmile Lake — 160 ft max · survey depth data · Rainbow TroutWhy #14: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
15. Eel Lake — 60 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Rainbow TroutWhy #15: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
16. Fish Lake — 30 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow TroutWhy #16: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
17. Siuslaw River — 55 ft max · survey depth data · Rainbow Trout, Chinook Salmon, Cutthroat TroutWhy #17: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
18. Metolius River — 8 ft max · Rainbow Trout, Kokanee, Lake WhitefishWhy #18: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
19. Loon Lake — 100 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Rainbow TroutWhy #19: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 3 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
20. Hosmer Lake — 9 ft max · survey depth data · Rainbow TroutWhy #20: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
21. Rogue River — 12 ft max · Rainbow Trout, Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, SteelheadWhy #21: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 14 public access sites, 3 carry-in or shore-oriented
22. Clear Lake — 160 ft max · survey depth data · Rainbow TroutWhy #22: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 3 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
23. Cleawox Lake — 40 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Rainbow TroutWhy #23: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
24. Olive Lake — 80 ft max · survey depth data · Rainbow TroutWhy #24: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
25. Charlton Lake — 80 ft max · survey depth data · Rainbow TroutWhy #25: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented

…plus 20 more Oregon waters holding rainbow trout.

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When to fish rainbow trout in Oregon

• Spring 5–20 ft — Post-ice-out trout roam shallow; fish inflows and windblown shorelines.
• Summer 8–30 ft — Rainbows hold near cold inflows, current seams and the thermocline — find the cool water and you've found the fish.
• Fall 10–35 ft — Fall feeding on rock shoals, current and channel edges as water cools.
• Winter 8–40 ft — Trout are comfortable in cold water — one of the best winter targets; streams and tailwaters fish shallow, deep lakes hold on basin edges.

Also in Oregon: best largemouth bass lakes · best smallmouth bass lakes · best crappie lakes · best yellow perch lakes · best brown trout lakes · best brook trout lakes

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