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For the trout herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 $79.99
Dorena Lake 12 mi
Photo: Doug Kerr, CC BY-SA 2.0 
Lookout Point Lake 6.2 mi
Photo: Bill Ward, CC BY 2.0 
Cottage Grove Lake 20 mi
Photo: Rick Obst, CC BY 2.0 
Springfield 14 mi
Photo: David Geitgey Sierralupe, CC BY 2.0
Oregon lakes and reservoirs
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Dexter Reservoir Fishing
A 884-acre Oregon reservoir in Lane County.
Pick for troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo: Bonnie Moreland, Public domain
Lane County
Where an Oregon day on Dexter Reservoir begins
The BLM outline of Dexter Reservoir, a reservoir in Lane County, adds up to roughly 884 acres. Boaters use sites operated by Oregon Parks and Recreation Department and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. From the GNIS point it is under a mile to Lowell.
3 open launch sites serve it, per OSMB. The booklet places it in the Willamette Zone. Hatchery trout are planned for it in 12 stocking weeks.
884acres (BLM outline)
3OSMB launches
8fish mapped
12stocking weeks
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.
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Fish ODFW maps in Dexter Reservoir
Bluegill Brown bullhead Chiselmouth Largemouth bass Northern pikeminnow Rainbow trout Smallmouth bass White crappie
Habitat records, booklet rules and records name these fish at Dexter Reservoir.
Native, stocked or introduced at Dexter Reservoir
| Fish | Use ODFW records | Origin | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | resident multiple uses | non native | DocObsFish |
| Brown bullhead | resident multiple uses | non native | DocObsFish |
| Chiselmouth | unknown | native local | DocObsFish |
| Largemouth bass | resident multiple uses | non native | DocObsFish |
| Northern pikeminnow | unknown | native local | UndocObsFish |
| Rainbow trout | resident multiple uses | native local | UndocObsFish |
| Smallmouth bass | resident multiple uses | non native | DocObsFish |
| White crappie | resident multiple uses | non native | UndocObsFish |
ODFW Fish Habitat Distribution layers (ODFW ArcGIS), read November 2, 2026; a mapped species is habitat use ODFW records, not a catch report.
Access
Where to launch on Dexter Reservoir
- Dexter Hand Launchhand carry launch; parking, hand launch; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- Dexter State Park2 lanes, trailered launch; parking, restrooms, life jacket loaner station; Oregon Parks and Recreation Department
- Lowell Park on Dexter Reservoir4 lanes, trailered launch; parking, restrooms, short-term tie-up, marina, life jacket loaner station; Oregon Parks and Recreation Department
Other OSMB launches by Dexter Reservoir
- Middle Fork Boat Launch on Middle Fork Willamette RiverMiddle Fork Willamette River, 1 mile northwest
- Meridian Park on Lookout Point LakeLookout Point Lake, 2 miles east
- Elijah Bristow Hand Launch on Middle Fork Willamette RiverMiddle Fork Willamette River, 3 miles northwest
- North Shore Fall Creek boat rampFall Creek Lake, 3 miles northeast
- Pengra Access on Middle Fork Willamette RiverMiddle Fork Willamette River, 4 miles northwest
- Jasper State Park Hand Launch on Middle Fork Willamette RiverMiddle Fork Willamette River, 7 miles northwest
Oregon State Marine Board Boating Access Sites layer (OSMB ArcGIS), read November 2, 2026; status as OSMB publishes it.
Level
Gauge and pool level on Dexter Reservoir
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Dexter Lake At Dexter, Or | 692.18 ft lake elevation | Nov 4 3:15 am |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 4, 2026 3:32 am ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
692.53 ftDexter Dam forebay elevation, November 2, 2026 PST
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.
The USGS gauge for Dexter Reservoir refreshes through the day; its values are provisional.
Stocking
Trout releases planned for Dexter Reservoir
| Week as printed | ODFW office | Planned trout by size class |
|---|---|---|
| Oct. 04, 2027 – Oct. 08, 2027 | Springfield | 5,060 legal-size trout |
| Apr. 19, 2027 – Apr. 23, 2027 | Springfield | 3,000 trophy trout |
| Mar. 29, 2027 – Apr. 02, 2027 | Springfield | 3,000 trophy trout |
| Mar. 22, 2027 – Mar. 26, 2027 | Springfield | 3,000 trophy trout |
| Mar. 08, 2027 – Mar. 12, 2027 | Springfield | 3,000 trophy trout |
| Feb. 22, 2027 – Feb. 26, 2027 | Springfield | 2,500 legal-size trout |
| Oct. 05, 2026 – Oct. 09, 2026 | Springfield | 5,060 legal-size trout |
| Apr. 20, 2026 – Apr. 24, 2026 | Springfield | 3,000 trophy trout |
| Mar. 30, 2026 – Apr. 03, 2026 | Springfield | 3,000 trophy trout |
| Mar. 23, 2026 – Mar. 27, 2026 | Springfield | 3,000 trophy trout |
The schedule lists planned releases for Dexter Reservoir; weather and hatchery conditions can change a week.
ODFW weekly trout stocking schedule (planned releases; ODFW prints size classes, not species), myodfw.com, read November 2, 2026.
Limits
Daily bag at Dexter Reservoir
Start with the Willamette Zone rows for Dexter Reservoir; the booklet places it there.
| 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. |
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.
Compare
Dexter Reservoir set beside nearby still water
For more room, Lookout Point Lake offers about 4,083 acres.
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Kind | OSMB launches | Stocking weeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dexter Reservoir | 884 | reservoir | 3 | 12 | |
| Fall Creek Lake | 4 miles northeast | 1,764 | reservoir | 1 | 14 |
| Lookout Point Lake | 6 miles southeast | 4,083 | reservoir | 2 | 0 |
| Walterville Reservoir | 11 miles north | 63 | reservoir | 0 | 0 |
| Dorena Lake | 12 miles southwest | 1,662 | reservoir | 1 | 8 |
| Cottage Grove Lake | 20 miles southwest | 1,075 | reservoir | 2 | 8 |
BLM outlines, the OSMB launch layer and the ODFW stocking schedule; read November 2, 2026.
Nearby
Next stops near Dexter Reservoir for an Oregon trip
More Oregon lakes close to Dexter Reservoir
- Fall Creek Lake4 miles northeast
- Lookout Point Lake6 miles southeast
- Walterville Reservoir11 miles north
- Dorena Lake12 miles southwest
- Cottage Grove Lake20 miles southwest
Gear shops in range of Dexter Reservoir
- Bi-Mart (Creswell)sporting goods store, Creswell, 11 miles
- Bi-Mart (Springfield/Thurston)sporting goods store, Springfield, 11 miles
- Danz Outdoorsbait and tackle shop, Springfield, 14 miles
- Bi-Mart (Springfield/Mohawk)sporting goods store, Springfield, 14 miles
- Bi-Mart (Cottage Grove)sporting goods store, Cottage Grove, 15 miles
- Bass Pro Shops Springfieldsporting goods store, Springfield, 17 miles
Lodging towns close to Dexter Reservoir
- Lowellunder a mile
- Creswell11 miles
- Springfield14 miles
County guides covering Dexter Reservoir
- Lane Countyseat: Eugene
Piscifun
Piscifun gear an angler could carry out to Dexter Reservoir
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Photos
Photographs from the shoreline near Dexter Reservoir
Photo: Doug Kerr, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Bill Ward, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Rick Obst, CC BY 2.0
Photo: David Geitgey Sierralupe, CC BY 2.0
Answers
Read these before you fish Dexter Reservoir
Where in Oregon is Dexter Reservoir?
The water sits in Lane County, under a mile from Lowell.
How many acres does the BLM outline give Dexter Reservoir?
Near 884 acres by the BLM layer.
Which OSMB launch is closest to Dexter Reservoir?
3 launch sites appear on the OSMB layer, including Dexter Hand Launch.
Which gamefish use Dexter Reservoir?
ODFW sources name bluegill, brown bullhead, chiselmouth, largemouth bass, northern pikeminnow, rainbow trout and smallmouth bass.
Does ODFW set a size limit at Dexter Reservoir?
Trout: Lakes: 5 per day, 3 daily limits in possession. Streams: catch-and-release only, unless noted under Exceptions; 8-inch minimum.
Can a visitor fish Dexter Reservoir?
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).
Are there docks on Dexter Reservoir?
None appears on the shore lists.
Where is the nearest Oregon tackle counter to Dexter Reservoir?
First on our list: Bi-Mart (Creswell), roughly 11 miles away.
Where do I check the water at Dexter Reservoir?
See the level band for the gauge and its date.
When does ODFW stock Dexter Reservoir?
Hatchery trout are planned in 12 stocking weeks.
Make Dexter Reservoir the weekend
Buy the Oregon license and tag online before the drive.