 |
| Mt Hood from Laurance Lake jprice |
Sunday - August 11
TVTU is at the halfway point of this season's outings - next up is Laurance Lake outside of Parkdale - AUGUST 11!! A good mix of wild bull/cutthroat/rainbow amongst the stocked rainbows - and with the Bull Trout in existence here do not forget there are special regulations to follow for this lake!
Known to whip to a frenzy with the fickle gorge/mountain winds Laurance can be tough and daunting sometimes but there are several inlets to escape to if the wind does come up [usually mid-afternoon]. Early and late the lake can be off the hook with dry fly action but produces all day long most the time and 50-75 fish days are not all that rare here. There is a concessionaire run day-use and camp area with fee - this is only a day trip so $5 to park is required; the day use area has a picnic table or two and fire pit so bring some dogs for a lunch on a fire if you're inclined. Bring the float tube or rowboat [no motors allowed; there are (2) unimproved gravel launches - they are flat though] and enjoy a day on the water close to Portland!
 |
| Laurance Lake Cutthroat |
 |
| Laurance Lake Bull Trout |
The upper and lower end creek inlets are known to produce - especially later in the year in warm temps but the dam area cannot be ignored; truth is fish are caught all over this lake and it can be entertaining to find that spot where the wild fish are congregating and the stocked trout are not allowed to play! Also as the breezes blow and shift watch for seams to form on the lake surface with dries and terrestrials!
To get there?
From Hood River: follow OR-35 13.1 miles south and take Cooper Spur Road to the right at Mt Hood [there is a small grocery deli at this intersection]; follow Cooper Spur for 1.8 miles and turn RIGHT onto Baseline/OR-281 into Parkdale; just past the railroad tracks in Parkdale take the LEFT onto Clear Creek road [approx. 0.5 mi]; follow Clear Creek south for 2.8 miles and STAY RIGHT at the 'Y'-intersection [sign for Laurance here]; follow Laurance Lake Road/FS 2810 for about 3.4 miles to the lake-you'll cross a gravel washout area where run-off blew out the road a few years ago but the road is single lane paved with turnouts.
From Government Camp: head to the OR26/OR-35 junction and take 35 north toward Mt Hood/Parkdale; follow 35 about 23 miles to Baseline Road [Parkdale turn-off]; take Baseline to the LEFT; continue on Baseline past the first left [an acute intersection - Jordan Road] and take Culbertson Road - the second left [at 0.6 mi]; follow Culbertson 1.8 miles to the SECOND FOUR-WAY intersection [Clear Creek Road] and take a LEFT; follow Clear Creek south for anoth 1.75 miles until you reach a 'Y'-intersection and bear RIGHT at the sign for Laurance Lake [FS road 2810/Laurance Lake Road] and follow it to the lake approximately 3.4 miles - you'll cross a gravel washout area where run-off blew out the road a few years ago but the road is single lane paved with turnouts.
