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1,121-acre reservoir near Blue River. The lake tops out around 400 ft. The depth chart is built from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the humps, channels and drop-offs you see are measured, not guessed. What the data behind the map says about each species, season by season:
On the chart, Cougar Reservoir draws 1,043 acres inside 15.4 miles of shoreline. The 3.4 development index tells the story — a convoluted bank whose fishable edge far outruns the acreage. Littoral water — the productive band under ~15 ft — makes up 0% of this chart. The basin spans about 4.5 mi end to end and 2 mi across at its widest. The water lies in Lane County. Closest neighbour on DepthScout: McKenzie River, 9 mi northwest of here.
Start shallow in spring: rainbow trout sit in 5 to 20 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 8 to 30 ft; cold water stacks them in 8 to 40 ft. Top water on the chart: Rush Creek inflow, an inflow / creek mouth in the 40 ft range, prime in winter. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. Throw a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Rush Creek inflow (40 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Rush Creek inflow (40 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Rush Creek inflow (40 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
The chart marks 10 structure features on Cougar Reservoir; the deepest is Deep basin at about 397 ft.
Access data: Oregon State Marine Board — Boating Access. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Oregon waters are set by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife — and special regulations can apply to Cougar Reservoir specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Oregon fishing regulations →
Cougar Reservoir is about 400 ft (122 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart here comes from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the contours reflect measured depths.
Anglers target rainbow trout on Cougar Reservoir.
Rush Creek inflow is the top-rated area: an inflow / creek mouth in about 40 ft of water that rates prime for rainbow trout in winter. Scroll up to the map for the complete spot list by species and season.
For rainbow trout, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on Cougar Reservoir is regulated by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. Check the official Oregon regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
McKenzie River 9 mi · Clear Lake 22 mi · Torrey Lake 23 mi · Hosmer Lake 24 mi · Sparks Lake 25 mi · Deer Lake 25 mi · Big Lake 26 mi · Waldo Lake 27 mi · Charlton Lake 28 mi · Crane Prairie Reservoir 31 mi · South Twin Lake 35 mi · Crescent Lake 44 mi
See how Cougar Reservoir stacks up: best rainbow trout lakes in Oregon
Browse all Oregon fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: state fisheries survey programs. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.