Oregon lake guide
Fish Lake (Steens Mountain) Fishing
Fish Lake on Steens Mountain is a small high-elevation trout lake stocked with rainbow trout and also supporting brook trout. The lake is one of the primary fishing destinations along the Steens Mountain Loop and is generally accessible from late June or July into fall depending on snow.
LocationOregon
Primary targetsRainbow Trout
Best seasonSpring to early summer
Lake size19 acres
Guide reviewed
Scientific profile
Research snapshot
Max depth30 feet
Elevation7,400 feet
Summer cautionWarm water
Lake map
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What makes Fish Lake (Steens Mountain) distinctive
At roughly 19.0 acres, Fish Lake (Steens Mountain) is a compact fishery where shoreline structure can dominate the lake.
Fish Lake (Steens Mountain) sits at roughly 7,400 feet in elevation, so seasonal access and water temperature can differ sharply from lowland lakes.
Fish Lake (Steens Mountain) has documented stocking context in the FishyNW research record, adding a managed-fishery component to its profile.
Measured & official data
Water Science
Loading available public monitoring and fishery science…
Pass 3 · depth + water column
Seasonal Fish Habitat
Surface · 0 ft
How to read this data
Temperature, dissolved oxygen, clarity, nutrients, chlorophyll-a, pH, and conductivity are observations from public monitoring records and may be historical. Thermocline depth is shown only when FishyNW can derive a strong vertical temperature gradient from a measured profile. It is not treated as a permanent lake characteristic.
Trophic indication uses the Carlson Trophic State Index only when FishyNW can normalize a measured chlorophyll-a, Secchi, or total-phosphorus value. It is a derived ecological indicator, not an agency impairment determination.
Seasonal Fish Habitat is shown only when verified bathymetry overlaps a same-day, same-station temperature and dissolved-oxygen profile. It is a historical screening snapshot, not a live prediction of where fish are located.
For lake trout, FishyNW uses the broader USGS-tested screening combination of water at or below 15°C (59°F) and dissolved oxygen at or above 4 mg/L. For other coldwater species, FishyNW does not invent a preferred-temperature threshold; it shows only the observed thermocline-to-oxygenated-depth refuge when the evidence supports it.
Harmful-algae status is never inferred from missing data. Always check the linked state source for current advisories before contact recreation.
Open matched Water Quality Portal recordsFishery record
Documented fish species
These species come from the lake record. Open a species guide for identification, seasonal behavior, and practical tactics without confusing general species guidance with a lake-specific survey result.
Fishery intelligence
Official fishery evidence
Agency survey records and measured fishery data, distilled for trip planning.
8
verified signals
Research & surveys
Official survey records available
Use the evidence
Turn records into a fishing plan
- Compare survey evidence with the seasonal guide.
- Use the map to connect depth, access, and structure.
- Confirm current rules and access before your trip.
Trip conditions
Current conditions
Loading the local forecast. Check access and official notices before leaving.
TodayLoading
WindLoading
GustsLoading
Rain chanceLoading
Four day outlook
Tools
Today's Lure Pick
Open Tools for species-specific lure guidance.
Angler interpretation
How the fishery changes through the seasons
This is the practical layer: use it alongside the documented species, depth, stocking, survey, access, and regulation record above. The current season opens first.
Spring
trout- Start here
- Cooler water, recent stocking, fish moving shallow, and protected shorelines or inlets that warm first.
- Watch for
- Cold fronts, changing water levels, muddy inflow, and early-season ramp conditions.
Summer
listed species- Start here
- Fish early or late, then adjust toward deeper water, shade, vegetation, or comfortable temperature zones.
- Watch for
- Warm water, weeds, algae, heat, and heavier boat traffic.
Fall
trout- Start here
- Cooling water, shoreline structure, points, weed edges, and simple presentations that let you cover water.
- Watch for
- Wind on open water, rapidly changing weather, and shorter daylight windows.
Winter
trout- Start here
- Legal open-water or ice access, stable depth zones, and conservative cold-weather trip plans.
- Watch for
- Ice safety where relevant, ramps, road conditions, cold-water exposure, and current rules.
Know before you go
Rules and restrictions
Check current Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations, in-season updates, waterbody closures and any temporary drought or harvest rules before fishing.
Getting on the water
Access and launches
BLM campground on Steens Mountain with 23 campsites, toilets, drinking water, boating, fishing and seasonal road access. A boat ramp and fishing dock are available; motors are not allowed.
Sorry, there are no mapped boat ramps for this lake yet. Check the access information below for other ways to reach the water.
Keep exploring
Nearby waters
Mann Lake
about 10.2 miles away
Mann Lake is an Oregon fishing water.
Krumbo Reservoir about 16.8 miles awayKrumbo Reservoir is an Oregon fishing water.
Juniper Lake about 19.5 miles awayJuniper Lake is an Oregon fishing water.
Moon Reservoir about 61.0 miles awayMoon Reservoir is a shallow Harney County irrigation reservoir. Oregon DEQ measured about 339 acres at the survey…
After the trip
Log what happened on the water
Use CatchSignal for catch reports, trip history, photos, and community activity. Keep your fishing history while controlling how much location detail you share.
Sources & feedback
Verified resources
Official links for this lake
Open the source that matches what you are planning.
Community feedback
See something that needs an update?
Send the correction and, when possible, the source. FishyNW reviews submissions before changing the guide.