Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area

Ok there's the ocean. Not much to say about where that is. Head west. You're there. You can fish from the bay, surf, and off the rocks. Cape Perpetua Campground, three miles south of Yachats, would be a good place to camp for someone who likes saltwater fishing from the rocks. Sea perch and flounders are common catches.

Freshwater and estuary fishing are a little more intricate. Here's a rundown, starting from the north and heading south...

Alder Lake - 3 acres
6.5 miles north of Hwy. 126, west of Hwy. 101 in Alder Dune Campground (open May 15-September).
Popular fishing area for children. Trail around lake. Bank brush trimmed. Stocked rainbow trout.

Dune Lake - 2 acres
Just south of Alder Lake within Alder Dune Campground (open May 15-September).
Northwest shore is private. Trail around part of lake. Stocked rainbow trout.

Munsel Lake - 110 acres
About 3 miles north of Hwys. 101 and 126 junction. Follow Munsel Lake Road from Hwy. 101 to paved boat ramp at southwest corner.
Mostly private land. Brushy banks. Most anglers troll from boats. Yellow perch, largemouth bass, cutthroat, and stocked rainbow trout.

Sutton Lake - 107 acres
5.5 miles north of Hwys. 101 and 126 junction. Access to west end of lake is from Hwy. 101 by Sutton Lake boat ramps or by trail from Sutton Campground.
Good yellow perch and largemouth bass, with some cutthroat. Stocked rainbow trout.

Mercer Lake - 359 acres
5 miles north of Hwys. 101 and 126 junction. Follow paved Mercer Lake Road 2.5 miles from Hwy. 101 to public asphalt ramp.
Brushy banks. Mostly private land. Diverse fishing with yellow perch, largemouth bass, bluegill, and stocked rainbow trout.

Siuslaw River
Access to river via several public boat ramps along Hwy. 126 between Florence and Mapleton and from ramp at Bender Landing on North Fork Road at milepost 2.
River can be hazardous to inexperienced boaters. Complete fishing facilities in Florence include a paved public boat ramp, boat moorage in Old Town Florence, bait and outfitter shops, charter fishing, and boat rentals. Excellent fishing for searun cutthroat. Chinook, coho, and shad are primarily taken in tidewater below Mapleton. Winter steelhead taken above Mapleton. Various saltwater fish near river mouth. Jetty fishing accessed via both North and South Jetty roads. Crabs and clams in bay.

Siltcoos River
Small river crosses Hwy. 101 about 6.5 miles south of Hwy.
126 USFS campgrounds—Tyee (with boat ramp), Waxmyrtle, Lodgepole, Lagoon, and Driftwood 11—serve dune recreation as well as fishing. No river boat ramps west of Hwy. 101. All seasonal fish runs to Siltcoos Lake pass through this river. Bank-casting for coho provides some of the best fall fishing. Largemouth bass enter river from lake in late summer.

Georgia Lakes - (also known as Erhart Lakes)
2 acres each. About 7.5 miles south of Hwy. 126, east of Hwy. 101 (no sign on highway).
Parking on road shoulder turnout. Brushy banks. Stocked rainbow trout.

Erhart Lake - (also known as Loon Lake)
5 acres. About 7.5 miles south of Hwy. 126, west of Hwy. 101. Access from Siltcoos Dune and Beach Access Road, turn left on unimproved road at telephone booths.
Stocked rainbow trout.

Siltcoos Lake - 3,164 acres
6 miles south of Hwy. 126, east of Hwy. 101. Access via public boat ramps 1/2 mile east of Hwy. 101 on Westlake Road and at USFS Tyee Campground. Access also via Siltcoos Lake Trail (2 miles), 7 miles south of Florence, east of Hwy. 101.
Popular boating area. Limited bank fishing. Boat rentals. Good fishing year-round. Fair runs of coho, searun cutthroat, and steelhead, especially in Miller's and Fiddle Creek lake arms. Largemouth bass are best in early spring. Mid-summer is excellent for yellow perch, bullhead catfish, crappie, and bluegill. Stocked rainbow trout.

Cleawox Lake - 87 acres
About 3 miles south of Hwy. 126 on Hwy. 101 in Honeyman State Park.
Facilities include a boat ramp, boat rentals, convenience store, and full-service campground. Stocked rainbow trout. Also has largemouth bass, crappie, some yellow perch, bullhead catfish, and bluegill.

Woahink Lake - 820 acres
About 3 miles south of Hwy. 126 on Hwy. 101 across from Honeyman State Park.
Residential shoreline. Popular boating and water-skiing area. Paved boat ramp. Picnic area with restrooms and covered shelters. Cutthroat, largemouth bass, and stocked rainbow trout.

Tahkenitch Lake - 1,674 acres
About 8 miles north of Reedsport, east of Hwy. 101.
Paved boat ramps and wheelchair-accessible piers at Tahkenitch Boat Ramp and Tahkenitch Landing. USFS campgrounds at Tahkenitch Landing and Tahkenitch Campground. Boat rentals. Limited bank fishing. Coho, searun cutthroat, steelhead, and largemouth bass; excellent for yellow perch, crappie, and bluegill.

Tahkenitch Creek
All fish runs to Tahkenitch Lake pass through this creek. Access via Tahkenitch Creek Trail (to be completed Fall 1992), west of Hwy. 101 approximately 3/4 mile north of Tahkenitch Ramp.

Elbow Lake - 13 acres
7 miles north of Reedsport, west of Hwy. 101.
Limited off-road parking. Yellow perch, largemouth bass, and stocked rainbow trout.

Threemile Lake - 63 acres
About 6 miles northwest of Reedsport. Hike-in access only from Tahkenitch Campground trailhead (3 miles), or from gravel-surfaced Sparrow Park Road (County Road 247) trailhead (1 mile).
Yellow perch and cutthroat. Not stocked.

Carter Lake - 28 acres
Narrow lake, about 8.5 miles south of Hwy. 126, west of Hwy. 101.
Access at USES Carter Lake Campground and East Carter Boat Ramp. Good bank fishing at most times. Stocked rainbow trout.

Lost Lake - 2 acres
10 miles north of Redstart, east of Hwy. 101.
Park on road shoulder turnout; short walk in. Stocked rainbow trout.

Perkiness Lake - 5 acres
About 9.5 miles north of Redstart, west of Hwy. 101.
Park on road shoulder turn-out; short walk in. Stocked rainbow trout.

Umpqua River, Smith River
Access via public boat ramps at Cardiner, Bolon Island, and Reedsport waterfront. Additional boat ramps along Hwy. 38 and Smith River Road.
Rivers can be hazardous for inexperienced boaters. Complete fishing facilities in Reedsport include bait and outfitter shops, charter fishing, and fishing guides. Coho, fall and spring chinook, perch, searun cutthroat, steelhead, sturgeon, and striped bass. Largemouth and smallmouth bass taken above Scottsburg. Excellent shad runs on both rivers above tidewater. Crabs and clams in bay.

At Winchester Bay there is a full-service marina with paved boat ramp, charter fishing, and boat moorage. Jetty and bank fishing for same species as in river. Crabs and clams in bay.

Lake Marie - 5 acres
4 miles south of Reedsport, west of Hwy. 101.
Umpqua Lighthouse State Park. Facilities include campground, picnic area, paved trail around lake, and swimming beach. No boat ramp. Stocked rainbow trout.

Saunders Lake - 52 acres
7.2 miles north of North Bend, west of Hwy. 101.
Residential shoreline. Picnic area with restrooms. Paved boat ramp. Bluegill, largemouth bass, yellow perch, and stocked rainbow trout.

Butterfield Lake
No public access.

Beale Lake - 130 acres
5.5 miles north of North Bend, west of Hwy. 101 on Hauser Station Road.
Hike-in or off-road vehicle access only. Two undeveloped camping areas near southwest end. Bluegill, yellow perch, and largemouth bass. Not stocked.

Snag Lake - 30 acres
5.5 miles north of North Bend, west of Hwy. 101 on Hauser Station Road.
Hike-in or off-road vehicle access only. Primitive camping. Largemouth bass and yellow perch. Not stocked.

Tenmile Lakes (North and South) - 2,723 acres total
East of Hwy. 101 through Lakeside, 12 miles north of North Bend.
Day-use county park includes picnic area, wheelchair-accessible pier, and paved boat ramp. Access to north lake through lake channel or from private boat ramp. Shallow lakes. Residential shoreline. Popular sailing and water-skiing area. Excellent angling for bluegill, largemouth bass, and bullhead catfish. Some coho, steelhead, rainbow trout, and cutthroat.

Tenmile Creek
Excellent winter steelhead fishing. Small boat and bank access via USFS Spinreel Campground, 10 miles north of North Bend, west of Hwy. 101.

Clear Lake
No public access.

Eel Lake - 355 acres
13 miles north of North Bend, east of Hwy. 101. Access from Tugman State Park.
Facilities include campground, picnic area, wheelchair-accessible pier, and paved boat ramp. Largemouth bass, crappie, and stocked rainbow trout.

Coos Bay
Haynes Inlet
Access to Bay, Inlet, and North Slough from paved boat ramp at North Bend Airport.
Bait and outfitter shops nearby. Major coastal estuary with a variety of bottom fish. Sturgeon, striped bass, and coho in North Slough. Clams in tide flats.

Empire Waterfront
Access to paved boat ramp from Newmark Street in Coos Bay. Bait shops nearby. River can be hazardous for inexperienced boaters. Variety of bottom fish, coho, chinook, and searun cutthroat. Crabs and clams in tide flats.

Charleston/Jetty
Access via Hwy. 101 to Charleston waterfront near Coast Guard station.
Charleston has full-service marina with paved boat ramp, bait and outfitter shops, and charter fishing.

Jetties provide excellent fishing for a variety of rock fish, coho, and perch. Herring, smelt, Dungeness crab, and rock crab caught from docks. Best clam flats are on North Spit and South Slough Flat.