Clear Lake - Belknap Springs, OR

Clear Lake, a truly exceptional natural lake near Belknap Springs in the central Oregon Cascades, offers a distinctive coldwater fishery. Renowned for its unparalleled clarity, spring-fed waters, and ancient submerged forest, it provides a serene and unique angling experience, exclusively permitting electric or non-motorized watercraft.

The primary piscatorial pursuits are its robust rainbow trout, regularly stocked by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), ensuring consistent engagement, alongside a healthy population of native cutthroat trout. Angling techniques are expertly adapted to the lake's transparency, demanding stealth and natural presentations. Still-fishing with common baits (PowerBait, worms) or dynamic spin-casting with small spinners and spoons are effective. Fly fishing is particularly rewarding, utilizing nymphs, midges, or small streamers with delicate presentations. Optimal angling spans late spring through early fall, post-snowmelt. Access is generally good via paved roads, with a developed boat launch. Regulations, meticulously managed by the ODFW, mandate no internal combustion motors and require strict adherence to current directives concerning bag limits and gear restrictions. Clear Lake thus embodies a pristine, consistently rewarding, and uniquely tranquil trout fishery.