Foster Lake is a reservoir in Oregon, near Linn County.
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.
Foster Lake in Linn County is a reservoir in Oregon.
During a low-light period near a small drop before changing depth, use the shape you can see at Foster Lake: check the best cover, the first drop, and one open-water line before moving.
Foster Lake is a lower, shallower South Santiam reservoir below Green Peter. It mixes stocked trout and kokanee with bass, crappie, and bluegill around warmer cover.
Troll or cast for trout and kokanee in the main water, then use soft plastics or small jigs in protected arms for bass and panfish.
Because Foster receives water from Green Peter, temperature and flow can shift faster than the shoreline suggests. Its shallower flats fish differently from the steep upper reservoir.
Fishing becomes easier when the trip starts with one goal: separate open-water trout and kokanee from warm protected bass and crappie cover. On Foster Lake, that separates a real pattern from random casting.
A second pass should follow the same main idea, which is to separate open-water trout and kokanee from warm protected bass and crappie cover, 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.
Fish listed for Foster Lake include Rainbow Trout, Kokanee Salmon, Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Black Crappie, and Bluegill.
During a low-light period near the first break under flat light, fish a small jig or minnow around wood, weeds, and sharp little drops for black crappie.
During a bright afternoon near the edge of deeper water while the water is rising, use a small jig, worm, or tiny plastic around green weeds and protected pockets for bluegill.
During a cool spring morning near the mouth of a pocket while the water is falling, drag a tube or Ned rig across rock and the hard edge of a point for smallmouth bass.
During a check of nearby water near a creek-side turn before changing areas, work a soft plastic, jig, or spinnerbait around weeds and protected cover for largemouth bass.
During a careful second pass near scattered wood near firm bottom, Other targets listed here include Rainbow Trout; give each one its own bait and depth instead of trying to catch everything with the same rig.
During the start of a weather change near a shallow shelf after a cold night, Make one shallow pass and one deeper pass on the same shoreline; that shows whether fish are tight to cover or using the first break.
During a warm summer afternoon near the edge of deeper water close to shade, Early in the year, protected water and the first warm afternoon can be the best clues; as the water heats up, check deeper edges without assuming every fish is on the bottom; cooling fall water often makes points and firm banks useful again.
During an overcast morning near the mouth of a pocket in clear water, a light spinning rod, thin line, a few small spoons, inline spinners, and jigs cover the listed trout; carry one slightly heavier setup when other fish or windy water call for more control.
During an overcast morning near a narrow cove before changing depth, record the wind, water color, depth that produced twice, and cover after a bite; those four notes are more useful on the next trip than a long list of spots that did not produce.
During a calm morning near a windblown shore close to shade, keep the first hour simple: use one moving bait to find active fish, slow down with a jig or natural bait on the best edge, and repeat the same setup when two bites come from matching depth and bottom during that part of the trip.
The main difference is easy to see: Foster Lake is a lower, shallower South Santiam reservoir below Green Peter.
Start simply: Troll or cast for trout and kokanee in the main water, then use soft plastics or small jigs in protected arms for bass and panfish.
Watch this closely: Because Foster receives water from Green Peter, temperature and flow can shift faster than the shoreline suggests.
Explore nearby waters, including local Featured destinations. Check each page for access and fishing restrictions.
Distances are straight-line estimates between mapped water locations.