Siltcoos Lake - Florence, OR

Siltcoos Lake, Oregon's largest coastal freshwater lake near Florence, is a preeminent recreational destination celebrated for its uniquely diverse fishery. This expansive, shallow impoundment offers both robust warmwater species and significant runs of anadromous fish.

The primary piscatorial pursuits are its prolific largemouth and smallmouth bass, providing excellent action within extensive vegetation and varied habitats, alongside exceptionally numerous bluegill, crappie, and formidable brown bullhead catfish and carp. Uniquely, the lake also hosts highly sought-after runs of coho salmon and winter steelhead from the Pacific. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) additionally stocks rainbow trout. Angling techniques are highly diverse: a wide array of lures for bass; jigs or bait for panfish; and trolling, drift fishing, or casting for anadromous species. Optimal warmwater fishing spans late spring through early fall; salmon and steelhead peak in fall and winter respectively; trout excel in spring and autumn. Access is exemplary via multiple public boat ramps and extensive bank access, necessitating watercraft for comprehensive coverage. Regulations, meticulously managed by the ODFW, are dynamic; strict adherence to current directives, particularly for anadromous species, is unequivocally paramount for legal compliance and sustainable resource management within this vital coastal fishery.