Contact Info
Madras, OR 97741
Basics
- Size:
- 4008 acres / 6.3 sq. miles
- Max. Depth:
- 265 feet
- Elevation:
- 4839 feet
- Season:
- June to August
Description
Crescent Lake is a popular recreation lake in a setting of woodedshorelines, sandy beaches and brilliant blue-green water. In addition to fishing for kokanee, lake trout, rainbow and brown trout, people come to this lake for sailing, swimming, water skiing windsurfing and camping. Lake trout are caught here in the 5 to 10 pound range with an occasional 20 pounder. In 1993 a 30 pound lake trout was caught at Crescent Lake.
Crescent Lake is on the Deschutes National Forest in a naturally glaciated basin behind a moraine dam and lies just east of the summit of the Cascade Mountain Range in Northern Klamath County. It is located about 3 miles south of Hwy 58 via Deschutes National Forest Road 60 from Crescent Lake junction. In 1922, a small earth and wooding dam was built across the outlet to store water for irrigation in Bend via Crescent Creek, Little Deschutes and Deschutes Rivers. The Bureau of Reclamation constructed a 40 foot-high earth and concrete in 1956 bringing the lake’s surface area elevation at full pool to 4,847 feet where it has a surface area of 4,008 acres. Water is drawn off for irrigation throughout the summer, so by summers end the lake level could drop as much as 15 feet.
Fishing
Fish:
Brown Trout
Lake Trout (Mackinaw)
Rainbow Trout
Whitefish
Fishing Methods:
Details
Size:
Max. Depth:
Elevation:
Season:
Water Access:
Camping Info
Additional Details:
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife currently manages whitefish for natural production, introduced kokanee salmon, rainbow and brown trout at Crescent Lake will be managed for natural and hatchery production consistent with the Basic Yield Fish Management Alternative for trout. Introduced lake trout (mackinaw) will be managed for natural production consistent with Natural Production Policy under the Trophy Fish Management Alternative for trout.
Bait/Lure Fishing Methods : Dropping bait off the underwater ledges near springs and Contorta Point can be effective. Before July most anglers troll with plugs and flatfish. After July fish deep with downriggers are used to go after the lake trout.
Fly anglers usually fish with a 6-weight rod using a intermediate sinking line or a floating line.
Amenities
Map + Directions
Basic Directions
Crescent Lake is approximately 75 miles southeast of Eugene off State Highway 58.
