Plaza Lake

High School Fisherman · 06-03-2001, 10:24 PM

Had a great fishing trip at a small lake in the Sqauw Mountain area. Was bored during the morning and pulled out the good ol' fishing in Oregon book and looked for a lake to hike into to hook into a few brookies. Originally looked for Sqauw Lakes, but could not find them ( if anyone knows where they are please tell me!!! ), anyways was travelling along forest rd. 4610 and came along a trail sign. It was #788 Plaza Lake Trail. Looked into the book and did some quick research and it looked good enough. Took the quick and steep 20 minute hike down to the lake. The trail lead straight to a nice pile of big logs where casting was made very simple into the deeper water of this 4 acre lake. Fish were rising everywhere, of all different sizes. At first, I tried a couple of drys (Bucktail Caddis, Royal Coachman, and a Griffiths Gnat) there was nothing. So I switched two a my favorite of all flies, the black wooly bugger. 2 consecutive casts 2 nice brookies, the first around 14 inches and the second around 11. Caught a couple more, but left earlier then I expected since my girlfriend fell into the lake. Overall a great fishing trip, I will return this week with my float tube to catch a bunch of nice size brookies. Need a fishing partner though, anyone interested just give a mail.

Steve · 06-04-2001, 11:45 PM

HSF, I have lived 47 years in Estacada, and worked for the USFS in Fire Prevention,,,That was my old patrol route,,,Squaw Lakes was that big meadow that you crossed before you headed up the last grade to Plaza...it was a series of beaver ponds to start with but have filled in with silt and sadly is just a small stream, there are some stunted Eastern Brook in the stream and some wide areas over by the rock cliffs, used to check out the skinny dippers cooling off at Plaza....late in the summer...Abbott Rd. or 4610 is one rough mother, with a slide near the old lookout...I don't know if it is passible but was able to get over to the Rock Basin...more lakes and easier trails, try Serene or Buck earlier in the season...And take the girlfriend..gotta get by the bad experience...Steve