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Lake Simtustus

Lake Simtustus is a reservoir in Oregon, near Jefferson County.

Live lake forecast

Lake Simtustus Fishing Weather

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Fish species in Lake Simtustus

Official stocking history

Stocking records show that the following fish or strains were stocked here. A historical stocking does not by itself prove that a self-sustaining population remains today.

Lake Simtustus is a reservoir in Jefferson County, Oregon.

No reliable acreage is listed for Lake Simtustus, so begin with visible cover and the first clear change in depth.

What Makes Lake Simtustus Different

Lake Simtustus is the narrow Deschutes River reservoir between Pelton and Round Butte dams. Current, steep rock, kokanee, trout, and smallmouth make it fish more like a canyon river than a broad lake.

Troll or jig for kokanee, cast small spoons for trout, and use tubes along sun-warmed rock for smallmouth bass.

How Lake Simtustus Fishes

The reservoir is long and narrow with little flat shoreline. Water released through the Pelton complex can change current and fish position quickly.

Fishing becomes easier when the trip starts with one goal: use canyon current and steep rock for kokanee, trout, and smallmouth bass. On Lake Simtustus, that separates a real pattern from random casting.

A second pass should follow the same main idea, which is to use canyon current and steep rock for kokanee, trout, and smallmouth bass, while holding the lure near the depth of the first two bites, changing speed once, and checking one nearby piece of matching water before leaving the area so the next move is based on a repeatable fish location instead of a guess or an old report from another part of the lake.

Simtustus receives water from the Round Butte and Pelton dam system, so current can change even when wind stays flat. Kokanee and trout may slide with that moving water. Smallmouth remain more tied to sun-warmed canyon rock and need a slower casting pass along the wall.

Lake Simtustus FAQs

What makes Lake Simtustus different from other Oregon waters?

The main difference is easy to see: Lake Simtustus is the narrow Deschutes River reservoir between Pelton and Round Butte dams.

What is a useful first fishing plan for Lake Simtustus?

Start simply: Troll or jig for kokanee, cast small spoons for trout, and use tubes along sun-warmed rock for smallmouth bass.

Which local detail matters most when fishing Lake Simtustus?

Watch this closely: The reservoir is long and narrow with little flat shoreline.

Check the evidence

Sources and what they establish

Source dates describe the evidence, not a live catch forecast. Check the managing authority before planning access or keeping fish.

  • Bridgelip Sucker — supporting source

    Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Fish Habitat Distribution

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Brown Trout — supporting source

    Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Trout Stocking Maps

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Bull Trout — supporting source

    Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Trout Stocking Maps

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Chiselmouth — supporting source

    Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Fish Habitat Distribution

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Sockeye Salmon — supporting source

    Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Trout Stocking Maps

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Largemouth Bass — supporting source

    Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Trout Stocking Maps

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Largescale Sucker — supporting source

    Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Fish Habitat Distribution

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Northern Pikeminnow — supporting source

    Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Fish Habitat Distribution

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Steelhead — supporting source

    Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Trout Stocking Maps

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Smallmouth Bass — supporting source

    Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Fish Habitat Distribution

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Steelhead — supporting source

    Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Fish Habitat Distribution

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Threespine Stickleback — supporting source

    Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Fish Habitat Distribution

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

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