Also known at Toketee Reservoir, this 80-acre man-made lake east of Roseburg is primarily fished for German brown trout, although the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife also reports the presence of rainbow trout.
Try lures, flies and bait, especially early in the mornings and in the evenings because brown trout feed primarily at night and in low-light conditions.
There is good bank access along Toketee-Rigdon Road and at a U.S. Forest Service Campground at the upper end, where the reservoir is fed by the North Umpqua River.
There also is a boat ramp. A small craft is typically enough in this smallish water and definitely better if the water level is down.
Most trout caught here tend to be pan-sized, but browns into the upper teens and better are sometimes landed. (Interested in bigger brown trout? See: Best Trophy Brown Trout Fishing Lakes in Oregon.)
See ODFW’s annual regulations for limits and other fishing rules.
The reservoir is a little more than an hour’s drive from the Interstate 5 area at Roseburg. You’ll use Highway 138 (North Umpqua Highway) into the Cascade Mountains most of the way before turning north on National Forest Road 34 in the area of the small Clearwater community located here. Turn left on Toketee-Rigdon Road to reach the campground area at the upper end of the lake.
Neighboring Toketee is Clearwater Forebay No. 2, part of the dam complex on the North Umpqua. This small reservoir, reached from good National Forest Service roads just east of Toketee, is often on ODFW’s rainbow trout stocking schedule once or twice a year.
Check the agency’s stocking schedule (linked below) for details because fishing will be best soon after a planting.
For example only: A recent check showed a generous planting of pan-sized trout scheduled at the end of May, heading into Oregon’s Free Fishing Weekend event, as well as a smaller planting of trophy-sized hatchery trout in late August, ahead of Labor Day.
If you are a novice trout angler, or looking to brush up on it, see Trout Fishing: Basic How-To Techniques and Tips.
Additional noteworthy fisheries in this general area are Diamond Lake, Lemolo Lake and the North Umpqua River. There are quite a number of campgrounds along the North Umpqua River and at local lakes and reservoirs.
2023 Clearwater Forebay 2 Trout Stocking
2023 Stocking | Total |
Apr. 10 – 14 | 500 |
May 15 – 19 | 500 |
Oregon Resources
ODFW Weekly Fishing Report
ODFW Trout Stocking Schedule
Oregon Fishing Regulations
National Weather Service