Best Fishing in Oregon

Vernonia Pond Fishing

Vernonia Pond is a great spot for anglers of all skill levels to catch a variety of fish, including rainbow trout, largemouth bass, crappie and other panfish.

Also known as Vernonia Lake, this 45-acre man-made reservoir sits right on the edge of the small city of Vernonia, located in Columbia County northwest of Portland. Access to this city park pond is as good as it gets for bank anglers, with a trail encircling the pond, with two fishing docks, a platform area and plenty of other spots to reach the water to cast. It’s set up well for kids and people with disabilities.

You also can launch a small boat here from a gravel ramp near the parking lot, but no gas motors are allowed. It’s a great spot for a float tube, kayak or other small craft.

Fishing is especially popular here during the spring, when the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife stocks thousands of hatchery-reared rainbow trout here. Expect the first planting to be timed with Oregon’s Spring Break in late March, and it’s likely ODFW will plan at least one more stocking by mid-spring. Follow the link at the bottom of this article for the current trout-stocking schedule. Trout fishing will be awesome for a few days after a planting and then taper off until the next one.

Within a very short time of spilling down the stocking truck’s chute, these fish will aggressively bite bait, lures and flies. Typical lake-fishing techniques will work here. 

Meet up at the gravel boat ramp.