Hills Creek Lake

Hills Creek Lake is a reservoir in Lane County, Oregon.

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

What Makes Hills Creek Lake Different

Hills Creek Lake begins where Hills Creek meets the Middle Fork Willamette. Cool upper water supports trout and kokanee while warmer arms hold bass and crappie.

Troll or cast for trout and kokanee along the old channel, then work wood and rock with soft plastics or small jigs for bass and crappie.

How Hills Creek Lake Fishes

The reservoir is narrower and more riverlike than nearby Lookout Point. Runoff color and cold inflow can divide the upper arm from the clearer dam end.

Fishing becomes easier when the trip starts with one goal: use Hills Creek and Middle Fork inflow to divide trout water from bass and crappie cover. On Hills Creek Lake, that separates a real pattern from random casting.

A second pass should follow the same main idea, which is to use Hills Creek and Middle Fork inflow to divide trout water from 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 and Baits

Fish listed for Hills Creek Lake include Rainbow Trout, Cutthroat Trout, Kokanee Salmon, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, and Black Crappie.

During an overcast morning near a shaded bank in stained water, fish a small jig or minnow around wood, weeds, and sharp little drops for black crappie.

During a steady fall day near a windblown shore after warm rain, drag a tube or Ned rig across rock and the hard edge of a point for smallmouth bass.

During the first hour near a narrow cove beside useful cover, work a soft plastic, jig, or spinnerbait around weeds and protected cover for largemouth bass.

During a low-light period near the edge of deeper water where two features meet, cast a small spoon, inline spinner, light jig, or fly through cool water for rainbow trout.

How to Read the Water

During a quick scouting pass near the outside weed line before changing areas, 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.

Season by Season

During a cool spring morning near a quiet corner close to shade, spring fishing starts with warming banks, creek mouths, and shallow cover; summer usually pushes the better bite toward the outside weed edge or a nearby drop; fall can bring bait back to windblown points, while winter calls for smaller moves and a slower pace.

A Simple Tackle Plan

During the last hour of daylight near the first break where two features meet, 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 the last hour of daylight near a quiet corner while the water is falling, record the wind, water color, depth where the lure was hit, 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 careful second pass near a windblown shore after a cold night, 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.

Hills Creek Lake FAQs

What makes Hills Creek Lake different from other Oregon waters?

The main difference is easy to see: Hills Creek Lake begins where Hills Creek meets the Middle Fork Willamette.

What is a useful first fishing plan for Hills Creek Lake?

Start simply: Troll or cast for trout and kokanee along the old channel, then work wood and rock with soft plastics or small jigs for bass and crappie.

Which local detail matters most when fishing Hills Creek Lake?

Watch this closely: The reservoir is narrower and more riverlike than nearby Lookout Point.