Detroit Lake Fishing
A 3,590-acre Oregon reservoir in Marion and Linn counties.
Pick for troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo: Bonnie Moreland, Public domain
Detroit Lake for a first-time Oregon visit
Detroit Lake is a reservoir of Marion and Linn counties whose NHD outline measures near 3,590 acres. Launches on it are run by Detroit Ranger District, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department and Private. Mill City, around 14 miles away, is the closest town on the Census list.
OSMB maps 6 open launch sites on it. The booklet names it in 1 water-specific rule. Its rules come from the Willamette Zone. It appears on 16 stocking weeks of the planned stocking schedule.
BLM Oregon hydrography lake outlines (NHD), summed by GNIS name (layer), read November 2, 2026.; launch managers from the Oregon State Marine Board launch layer; Census 2023 places.
What lives in Detroit Lake
Treat the Detroit Lake list as where ODFW records fish, not as a survey of numbers.
Origin notes for fish in Detroit Lake
| Fish | Use ODFW records | Origin | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brook trout | resident multiple uses | non native | UndocObsFish |
| Brown bullhead | resident multiple uses | non native | UndocObsFish |
| Coastal cutthroat trout | unknown | native local | UndocObsFish |
| Largemouth bass | resident multiple uses | non native | UndocObsFish |
| Rainbow trout | resident multiple uses | native local | DocObsFish |
ODFW Fish Habitat Distribution layers (ODFW ArcGIS), read November 2, 2026; a mapped species is habitat use ODFW records, not a catch report.
For the trout herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 Putting a boat on Detroit Lake
- Detroit Lake State Park – D Ramp1 lane, trailered launch; parking, restrooms, use fee; Oregon Parks and Recreation Department
- Detroit Lake State Park – F Dockhand carry launch; parking, restrooms, short-term tie-up, marina, hand launch; Oregon Parks and Recreation Department
- Detroit Lake State Park – G Ramp1 lane, trailered launch; parking, restrooms, use fee; Oregon Parks and Recreation Department
- Detroit Lake State Park – H Marinahand carry launch; parking, restrooms, use fee, short-term tie-up, marina; Oregon Parks and Recreation Department
- Mongold Low-Water Ramp on Detroit Laketrailered launch; parking, restrooms, use fee, life jacket loaner station; Oregon Parks and Recreation Department
- Piety Island Boat In Site launch on Detroit Lakehand carry launch; parking, hand launch; Detroit Ranger District
Skip Cove Creek Campground boat ramp on Detroit Lake, Hoover Campground boat ramp on Detroit Lake, Southshore Day Use Area boat ramp on Detroit Lake and Mongold State Park Upper Ramp on Detroit Lake; OSMB lists it as closed.
Launches a brief haul from Detroit Lake
- Big Cliff launchBig Cliff Reservoir, 4 miles west
- Elk Lake CG Willamette launchElk Lake (Marion), 8 miles north
- Packsaddle Park on North Santiam RiverNorth Santiam River (below Detroit), 9 miles west
- 7th Street Ramp on North Santiam RiverNorth Santiam River (below Detroit), 14 miles west
- Kimmel Park on North Santiam RiverNorth Santiam River (below Detroit), 14 miles west
- Hammond Park on North Santiam RiverNorth Santiam River (below Detroit), 15 miles west
Oregon State Marine Board Boating Access Sites layer (OSMB ArcGIS), read November 2, 2026; status as OSMB publishes it.
Where Detroit Lake stands now
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Detroit Lake Near Detroit, Or | 1,481.60 ft lake elevation | Nov 4 5:15 am |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 4, 2026 5:33 am ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Northwestern Division water management data (NWD dataquery), reading as of the date shown, read November 2, 2026; datum as the Corps publishes it.
Readings on Detroit Lake come live from USGS and stay provisional until reviewed.
ODFW stocking schedule for Detroit Lake
| Week as printed | ODFW office | Planned trout by size class |
|---|---|---|
| Jun. 28, 2027 – Jul. 02, 2027 | Corvallis | 6,900 legal-size trout |
| Jun. 21, 2027 – Jun. 25, 2027 | Corvallis | 13,000 legal-size, 1,500 trophy trout |
| Jun. 14, 2027 – Jun. 18, 2027 | Corvallis | 8,000 legal-size trout |
| Jun. 07, 2027 – Jun. 11, 2027 | Corvallis | 4,000 trophy trout |
| May. 31, 2027 – Jun. 04, 2027 | Corvallis | 4,000 trophy trout |
| May. 24, 2027 – May. 28, 2027 | Corvallis | 8,000 trophy trout |
| May. 17, 2027 – May. 21, 2027 | Corvallis | 2,000 legal-size, 7,000 trophy trout |
| May. 10, 2027 – May. 14, 2027 | Corvallis | 12,000 trophy trout |
| Jun. 29, 2026 – Jul. 03, 2026 | Corvallis | 6,900 legal-size trout |
| Jun. 22, 2026 – Jun. 26, 2026 | Corvallis | 13,000 legal-size, 1,500 trophy trout |
ODFW plans these weeks for Detroit Lake and adjusts them when needed.
ODFW weekly trout stocking schedule (planned releases; ODFW prints size classes, not species), myodfw.com, read November 2, 2026.
Taking fish home from Detroit Lake
Look up Detroit Lake in the Willamette Zone pages of the booklet.
| Species | Daily limit as printed | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Trout | Lakes: 5 per day, 3 daily limits in possession. Streams: catch-and-release only, unless noted under Exceptions; 8-inch minimum | Lakes: Open all year. Streams: Open May 22 – Oct 31 unless noted under Exceptions. |
| Kokanee | 10 per day unless noted under Exceptions. | Open all year. |
| Salmon and Steelhead below Willamette Falls and Columbia River Tributa. | In the aggregate: 2 adult salmon or steelhead per day, 20 per year. 5 jacks per day, 2 daily jack limits in possession. | Closed in all waters unless noted under Exceptions. |
| Salmon above Willamette Falls | 2 adult salmon per day, 5 jacks per day, 2 daily jack limits in possession. 20 salmon and steelhead per year in aggregate. | Closed in all waters unless noted under Exceptions. |
| Steelhead above Willamette Falls | 3 adult steelhead per day (in addition to daily salmon bag limit). 20 salmon and steelhead per year in aggregate. | Closed in all waters unless noted under Exceptions. |
| Sturgeon | Catch-and-release only, unless noted under Exceptions. | Catch-and-release: Open all year, except as noted under Exceptions. |
| Bass | Lakes: 5 per day, 3 daily limits in possession unless noted under Exceptions. Streams: No limit. | Lakes: Open all year. Streams: Open during trout, salmon or steelhead seasons, except mainstem Willamette River and sloughs and tidewater areas of Columbia. |
| Bluegill, Catfish, Crappie, Other Sunfish, Walleye, Yellow Perch, Stri. | No limit, unless noted under Exceptions. | Lakes: Open all year. Streams: Open during trout, salmon or steelhead seasons, except mainstem Willamette River and sloughs and tidewater areas of Columbia. |
| Pacific Lamprey | Refer to General (Statewide) Regulations for regulations covering the harvest of Pacific lamprey. | Refer to General (Statewide) Regulations for regulations covering the harvest of Pacific lamprey. |
| Smelt | Closed. | Closed. |
Rules written just for Detroit Lake
| Water as printed | Species | Rule | Page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit Reservoir | All Zone Regulations apply. | p. 44 |
Water exceptions as printed in the 2026 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations (ODFW, eRegulations edition) (booklet PDF; printed page shown), read November 2, 2026. In-season changes from ODFW override them.
An Oregon angling license ($50 resident, $138 nonresident for 2026) covers anglers 12 and older; salmon, steelhead, sturgeon and halibut go on a Combined Angling Tag ($69 resident).
Limits as printed in the 2026 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations (ODFW, eRegulations edition) (Willamette Zone page), read November 2, 2026.
Contests held on Detroit Lake
For Detroit Lake derbies and results, open the tournament page.
Nearby lakes alongside Detroit Lake
By outline area, Big Cliff Reservoir tops the nearby lakes at about 101 acres.
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Kind | OSMB launches | Stocking weeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit Lake | 3,590 | reservoir | 6 | 16 | |
| Big Cliff Reservoir | 4 miles west | 101 | reservoir | 1 | 0 |
| Elk Lake (Marion County) | 8 miles northeast | 66 | lake | 1 | 0 |
| Lake Ann | 18 miles southeast | 21 | lake | 1 | 0 |
| Horseshoe Lake | 20 miles east | 16 | lake | 1 | 0 |
| Breitenbush Lake | 20 miles east | 55 | lake | 1 | 0 |
BLM outlines, the OSMB launch layer and the ODFW stocking schedule; read November 2, 2026.
Within an easy drive of Detroit Lake
Lakes for a second day near Detroit Lake
- Big Cliff Reservoir4 miles west
- Elk Lake (Marion County)8 miles northeast
- Lake Ann18 miles southeast
- Horseshoe Lake20 miles east
- Breitenbush Lake20 miles east
Picking up tackle for Detroit Lake
- Kane's Marina Incmarina, Detroit, 2 miles
- Detroit Lake Marinamarina, Detroit, 3 miles
- Santiam Sports Centerbait and tackle shop, Mill City, 15 miles
- Jimiley Custom Rodsbait and tackle shop, Lyons, 20 miles
- Sportsman's Warehouse Albanysporting goods store, Albany
- Two Rivers Fly Shopfly shop, Albany
Booking a fishing guide for Detroit Lake
- FISHERMAN MIKE'S GUIDE SERVICEfishing guide, Mill City, (971) 273-3422
- Pastime Fishing Adventuresfishing guide, Silverton, (503) 510-1100
Towns that work as a base for Detroit Lake
- Mill City14 miles
- Lyons21 miles
- Stayton31 miles
The counties around Detroit Lake
- Marion Countyseat: Salem
- Linn Countyseat: Albany
Rods, reels and braid from Piscifun for Detroit Lake
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
What the Detroit Lake species look like
Photo: Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, CC BY 2.0
Photo: gailhampshire, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Oregon State University, CC BY-SA 2.0
What gets asked about Detroit Lake first
What corner of Oregon holds Detroit Lake?
Its county is Marion and Linn counties, about 14 miles from Mill City.
How big is Detroit Lake on the PMEP map?
About 3,590 acres mapped.
Where does OSMB map a launch on Detroit Lake?
Try Detroit Lake State Park – D Ramp, one of 6 launch sites.
What does ODFW record in Detroit Lake?
The habitat layers and booklet list brook trout, brown bullhead, cutthroat trout, largemouth bass and rainbow trout.
Does the booklet set special rules for Detroit Lake?
Trout: Lakes: 5 per day, 3 daily limits in possession. Streams: catch-and-release only, unless noted under Exceptions; 8-inch minimum. A water-specific rule changes part of that; see the limits band.
What are the 2026 fees for fishing Detroit Lake?
An Oregon angling license ($50 resident, $138 nonresident for 2026) covers anglers 12 and older; salmon, steelhead, sturgeon and halibut go on a Combined Angling Tag ($69 resident).
Where can I fish Detroit Lake without a boat in Oregon?
The shore lists skip this water.
Who sells Oregon bait near Detroit Lake?
The nearest listed counter is Kane's Marina Inc, roughly 2 miles away.
What is the level of Detroit Lake now?
The level band carries the current reading.
Does Detroit Lake get hatchery trout?
It is on the schedule for 16 stocking weeks.
Take the Oregon back roads to Detroit Lake
Every Oregon fee and bag limit is one click away.