Fishing

Anglers will find fantastic fishing in the many rivers and lakes around Oakridge / Westfir.

Fish for brown and rainbow trout, crappie, Chinook salmon, largemouth bass and catfish. Cast out a line with a fishing guide from a river raft, a drift boat, jet boat, or from the shoreline. Have your waders? The Middle Fork of the Willamette River and Salmon Creek provide relaxing locations for fly fishing. In the spring, the Willamette Fish Hatchery in Oakridge stocks Salmon Creek with rainbow trout.

Hills Creek Reservoir offers several boat launches and picnic facilities. This is a popular place for trolling. Odell Lake has a reputation for trophy-sized mackinaw and Oregon’s best kokanee fishing. Or try your luck fly fishing at Waldo Lake, more challenging, but one of the purest lakes in the country. It is so pure, in fact, that gas powered motorized boats are prohibited.

Buy a fishing license online or from a licensed retailer when picking up bait and tackle – there are two in Oakridge.