East Lake
East Lake is a popular recreation lake in a setting of wooded shorelines, sandy beaches and brilliant blue-green water. The lake is one of two exceptional trout lakes nestled in the caldera of the Newberry National Volcanic Monument, the largest ice-age volcano in Oregon. In addition to fishing for kokanee, rainbow trout, Atlantic salmon, chub, and brown trout, people come to this lake to picnic and camp. East Lake shares this outstanding geologic area with Paulina Lake and both lakes are well known for their large brown trout. East lake is one of the finest and most traditional fisheries in Oregon, regularly producing brown trout over 10 pounds. The lake record for brown trout is a 22.5 pounds. Brown. Rainbow trout are also popular using all kinds of angling techniques. East Lake is 6,381 feet above sea level, is approximately a mile in diameter, and the average depth is just over 67 feet. The lake is fed by snowmelt and underground springs.
Covering over 500 square miles, Newberry Volcano is one of the largest shield volcanoes in the lower 48 states. The area was named after J. S. Newberry, a scientist attached to the 1853 railroad surveying party. The volcano's summit contains a seventeen square mile caldera, also referred to as Newberry Crater, formed as the top of the volcano collapsed when the magma chamber beneath emptied out. The caldera may have Originally contained one large lake, like Crater Lake. However, more recent eruptions divided the crater into two crystal clear lakes, separated by pumice, ash, and lava flows.
Motorized and non-motorized boats are allowed on this body of water.
For boat launch information see East Lake Boating Site, Cinderhill Boating Site , Hot Springs Boating Site and East Lake Resort.
Activities
Lake and Pond Fishing
What To Expect
- Vehicle Access: East Lake is approximately 35 miles southwest of Bend, Oregon and located in the Newberry Crater.
- Fishing Access: East Lake fishing map under construction.
- Boating Regulations: See boating regulations.
- Fish Species Present: Brown trout, rainbow trout, brook trout, Atlantic salmon, and kokanee.
- Physical Characteristics: Size: 1050 acres; Depth: 200' maximum; Elevation: 6371'
- When/How to fish: Last Saturday of April to October 31. Get a weekly fishing report from Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. Another site with information.
- Popular Fishing Methods: Still-fishing, trolling, fly fishing, jigging, and casting
- Bait/Lure Fishing Method: Use a bobber set-up when the fish are at the surface. Bait anglers do best in early season. Plug-type lures and flasher-bait rigs are used, as well as dark colored woolly-worms and nymphs.
- Fly Fishing Methods: Fly anglers usually fish with a 6-weight rod using a intermediate sinking line or a floating line.
- Insect Hatch/Flies to Use: Check the East and Paulina Lakes Major Hatches chart below. Muddler minnows, Adams and woolly buggers
- Camping Information: Cinder Hill Campground and East Lake Campground
- Resort Information: East Lake Resort
Source: “Fishing Central Oregon-Third Edition”, 1998. Geoff Hill, Brooke Snavely, and Raven Wing. Sun Publishing, 716 NE 4th Street, Bend, Oregon. http://www.sun-pub.com
Alerts & Warnings
- West Bend Area Trail Closures (Dec. 11, 2024)
- Bachelor Complex Fires Emergency Closure (November 15, 2024)
- Firestone & Flat Top Fires Emergency Closure (October 11, 2024)
- Blue-Green Algae Information (Summer 2024)
- Recreating in the Cedar Creek Fire Burned Area (June 2023)
- Willamette NF Fire Closures