Looking for a good lake in oregon near PDX????

Ok… So since you guys are out there slaying these huge monster fish. I wanted to ask you being a newbie and all what lake would be great to hit with a friend (since I now own a Malibu mini & a OK Drifter. Thank you CL!)

Looking for a lake close to PDX that could produce some monster fish…..suggestions?

Benson Lake is kind of what I was thinking….  But haven’t been there in years…..

This would be on the weekend of 28th.….. !

Also would be cool to run into some of you guys out and about sometime.

What kind of monster fish where you thinking of catching?

Henry Hagg Lake is about 40 min from Portland and holds the state record for smallmouth bass (~9 lbs) and also has largemouth and stocked trout.

Most other lakes around here have the standard planter trout and you may luck out with a hold over fish or two.  I'm not sure how likely catching a huge monster fish is.

Another option if you really want to stay close to PDX is Swan Island for bass and crappie, but I wouldn't eat anything from that industrial cess pool.

There are plenty of places on the Willamette R. and Multnomah Channel that provide a lot of fishing opportunities for a whole mixed bag of fish .. salmon, steelhead, sturgeon, smallmouth bass, walleye, shad, panfish, etc..  However, the river has been running pretty cold and high with all the snowmelt, so maybe it's not the best plan for "newbies".

Let me know where you decide to go and I'll see about making it myself.

Brian

If you are willing to drive a little further, add in the Mt. Hood area lakes for trout, with some potential for larger fish (like Lost Lake or Timothy Lake).

Mt Hood would be good. thought of that but i heard Gov. Camp still has like feet of snow. So i didnt know if there is access to the lakes. Not to mention i dont have a dry suit..... if i might freeze......lol

In the Mt Hood area, Laurence is good, Lost Lake is still closed according to their website. Haven't heard on Timothy.

Earlier thread on some of the Hood River lakes here:
http://www.northwestkayakanglers.com/index.php/topic,1198.0.html

I have fond memories of Timothy lake, camping there on my 12th birthday.  Was one of the few times I've ever been out in a canoe, had a blast (same with elk lake).  Really looking forward to revisiting these lakes this summer and finding some new ones.  What sort of bait/lures do you guys use at Timothy?