Davis Lake straddles the border between
Deschutes County
Deschutes County is one of the 36 counties in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2020 census, the population was 198,253. The county seat is Bend. The county was created in 1916 out of part of Crook County and was named for the Deschutes ...
and
Klamath County in the U.S. state of
Oregon. A relatively large and shallow lake in the
Deschutes National Forest, it is located toward the south end of the
Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway
The Cascades Lakes Scenic Byway (Forest Route 46) is a National Scenic Byway in central Oregon in the United States. It runs for in the rugged country of Deschutes and Klamath counties on the east side of the Cascade Range. It offers partic ...
, 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 method that uses a light-weight lure—called an artificial fly—to catch fish. The fly is cast using a fly rod, reel, and specialized weighted line. The light weight requires casting techniques significantly diffe ...
with artificial flies is permitted.
Rainbow trout
The rainbow trout (''Oncorhynchus mykiss'') is a species of trout native to cold-water tributaries of the Pacific Ocean in Asia and North America. The steelhead (sometimes called "steelhead trout") is an anadromous (sea-run) form of the coasta ...
are planted to assist natural reproduction. The
piscivorous trout, native to the lake, feeds on the invasive
Tui chub.
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 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.
See also
*
Lake Davis
*
List of lakes in Oregon
References
External links
*
{{authority control
Deschutes National Forest
Lakes of Oregon
Lakes of Klamath County, Oregon
Protected areas of Klamath County, Oregon