Davis Lake straddles the border between Deschutes County and Klamath County in the U.S. state of

Oregon Oregon ( , ) is a U.S. state, state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is a part of the Western U.S., with the Columbia River delineating much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington (state), Washington, while t ...

. A relatively large and shallow lake in the

Deschutes National Forest The Deschutes National Forest is a United States national forest (NF) located in Central Oregon, in parts of Deschutes, Klamath, Lake, and Jefferson counties. It was established in 1908, with border changes following in 1911 and 1915. The f ...

, it is located toward the south end of the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway, near Oregon Route 58 and U.S. 97. The lake is known as one of Oregon's best bass lakes.

History

Davis Lake was formed by a lava flow within the nearby volcanic field blocking Odell Creek. The blockage results in the lake, which can cover over acres in the winter months. In the summer, however, the inflow from Odell and Ranger creeks cannot fill up the lake as fast as the water escapes through the lava blockage, resulting in the lake covering a much smaller area. It is unknown where the water goes that escapes through the lava dam. Davis Lake is known for its fishing. Only

fly fishing Fly fishing is an angling technique that uses an ultra-lightweight lure called an artificial fly, which typically mimics small invertebrates such as flying and aquatic insects to attract and catch fish. Because the mass of the fly lure is in ...

with artificial flies is permitted.

Rainbow trout The rainbow trout (''Oncorhynchus mykiss'') is a species of trout native to cold-water tributary, tributaries of the Pacific Ocean in North America and Asia. The steelhead (sometimes called steelhead trout) is an Fish migration#Classification, ...

are planted to assist natural reproduction. The

piscivorous A piscivore () is a carnivorous animal that primarily eats fish. Fish were the diet of early tetrapod evolution (via water-bound amphibians during the Devonian period); insectivory came next; then in time, the more terrestrially adapted rept ...

trout, native to the lake, feeds on the invasive

Tui chub The Tui chub (''Siphateles bicolor'') is a species of freshwater Actinopterygii, ray-finned fish belonging to the Family (biology), family Leuciscidae, which includes the daces, chubs, Phoxinus, Eurasian minnows and related fishes. This fish is ...

. In the 1980s and 1990s, years of drought lowered the levels and warmed the waters of the lake, affecting the trout, which thrive during high-water years. In 1995,

largemouth bass The largemouth bass (''Micropterus nigricans'') is a carnivorous, freshwater fish, freshwater, ray-finned fish in the Centrarchidae (sunfish) family, native to the eastern United States, eastern and central United States, southeastern Canada an ...

were illegally put into the lake, feeding off of the smaller trout. Now, the bass population is greater than the trout population.

Amenities

Davis Lake is a fly-fishing lake only. Motors are allowed, and per the 2013 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations trolling is allowed. Speed is limited to . There is boat ramp located on the west side of Odell Creek and at South Davis Campground higher up Odell Creek. Boat launching at Lava Flow campground is also an option. There are three campgrounds on the shores of the lake—one each on the west and east sides, and one near the lava flow—which comprise 70 individual campsites. All three campgrounds provide firepits, picnic tables, and toilets, and the east and west side campgrounds provide water.

References

External links

* {{authority control Deschutes National Forest Lakes of Oregon Lakes of Klamath County, Oregon Protected areas of Klamath County, Oregon

History

Amenities

See also

References

External links