What is the deepest lake in Oregon?

Of the lakes with a published depth, Crater Lake is the deepest at about 1949 ft.

Deepest lakes in Oregon: 10 lakes ranked by depth

The deepest lakes in Oregon with a published depth, deepest first. Deep lakes stay cold below the surface all summer, which is what trout and big predators want.

Deepest first

#	Lake	Deepest	Size
1	Crater Lake	about 1949 ft	13,200 acres
2	Detroit Lake	about 440 ft	3,500 acres
3	Waldo Lake	about 420 ft	6,270 acres
4	Lake Billy Chinook	about 415 ft	4,000 acres
5	Wallowa Lake	about 299 ft	1,510 acres
6	Odell Lake	about 282 ft	3,580 acres
7	Crescent Lake	about 265 ft	4,550 acres
8	Paulina Lake	about 250 ft	1,530 acres
9	East Lake	about 180 ft	1,040 acres
10	Lake Owyhee	about 117 ft	13,900 acres

1. Crater Lake

Crater Lake is a natural lake of 13,200 acres of water. It lies within an easy drive of Medford (about 55 miles). Expect trout and kokanee salmon. At about 1949 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work. Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the United States and among the clearest lakes in the world. It is a clear lake, so long casts and a quiet approach pay off.

Crater Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

2. Detroit Lake

Detroit Lake spreads over 3,500 acres of water. Expect trout, kokanee salmon and largemouth bass. At about 440 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. The lake bed gives you two point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work.

Detroit Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

3. Waldo Lake

Waldo Lake is a natural lake of some 6,270 acres. You will find it near Oakridge. Like most lakes its size in Oregon, it should hold trout, lake trout and yellow perch. At about 420 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work. Waldo Lake is renowned for its exceptional water clarity and is the second-deepest lake in Oregon after Crater Lake. It is a clear lake, so long casts and a quiet approach pay off.

Waldo Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

4. Lake Billy Chinook

Lake Billy Chinook is a reservoir of some 4,000 acres. It lies within an easy drive of Bend (about 31 miles). It is the Deschutes/Crooked/Metolius behind Round Butte Dam. Expect trout, smallmouth bass and kokanee salmon. At about 415 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look. Lake Billy Chinook is formed by Round Butte Dam at the confluence of the Crooked, Deschutes, and Metolius rivers.

Lake Billy Chinook today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

5. Wallowa Lake

Wallowa Lake covers some 1,510 acres. It lies about 1.4 miles north of Joseph. Like most lakes its size in Oregon, it should hold largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill and catfish. At about 299 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and an upper arm to work. Wallowa Lake is a glacially carved, moraine-dammed lake at the base of the Wallowa Mountains.

Wallowa Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

6. Odell Lake

Odell Lake spreads over 3,580 acres. It lies about 23 miles northwest of Oakridge. Trout, kokanee salmon and lake trout are the draw. The deepest water is around 282 ft. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and a sheltered cove: good places to start.

Odell Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

7. Crescent Lake

Crescent Lake spreads over some 4,550 acres. You will find it about 26 miles northeast of La Pine. It holds trout and kokanee salmon. It goes down to about 265 ft. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look.

Crescent Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

8. Paulina Lake

At some 1,530 acres, Paulina Lake is small enough to learn in a few trips. You will find it within an easy drive of Bend (about 23 miles). Expect kokanee salmon and trout. The deepest water is around 250 ft. Paulina Lake occupies part of the Newberry Volcano caldera alongside East Lake.

Paulina Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

9. East Lake

East Lake spreads over 1,040 acres of water. You will find it about 13 miles northwest of Three Rivers. It holds trout and kokanee salmon. It goes down to about 180 ft. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and an upper arm worth a first look. East Lake sits within the Newberry Volcano caldera next to Paulina Lake.

East Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

10. Lake Owyhee

Lake Owyhee spreads over some 13,900 acres. The lake is within an easy drive of Caldwell (about 27 miles). It is the Owyhee River behind Owyhee Dam. The fish here are crappie, trout, largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. At about 117 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start.

Lake Owyhee today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

The clearest of them

Crater Lake and Waldo Lake are known for clear water. On a clear lake fish see a long way: lighter line, natural colours and longer casts make the difference.

Fishing deep water

Deep lakes reward slow, vertical fishing: drop a jig or a spoon to the depth where fish show on the sonar and work it right there. In spring and fall the fish come shallow and any method works.