- With more than 3,100 surface acres, Siltcoos Lake is the largest lake on the Oregon coast and is located about six miles south of Florence and about a quarter-mile east of Highway 101. The community of Westlake sits on the west side of the lake. Siltcoos is relatively shallow with an average depth of about ten feet and relatively round allowing the consistent afternoon winds to affect anglers. However, there are always some protected arms or islands where the downwind sides allow fishing in calm conditions. Siltcoos has lots of angling variety and all of the fish present are capable of reaching large sizes relative to their species. The state record coho salmon (25 lbs 5.25 oz) and searun cutthroat trout (six pounds four ounces) came from Siltcoos Lake. There have been at least four bluegills that would have bested the current Oregon state record had they been officially weighed. Lots of big largemouth bass are pulled each year from Siltcoos with the official record weighing nine pounds and a half pounds.but a few even larger have been landed but not officially weighed. Although the average black crappie will measure about ten inches, they have been landed up to about 17-inches.
Surprisingly, the crappie don't receive much fishing pressure during the spring and early summer months when they should be easy to catch. During 2001 and 2002, the crappie and bluegill fishing was very poor. Yellow perch average about eight inches, but good numbers of them measuring between 11 and 14-inches are taken each year, especially in the early fall (A couple of two pound yellow perch have been taken in 2001 and 2002.). Siltcoos is also one of the very best spots on the coast for catching brown bullhead catfish which are usually taken on nightcrawlers at night. Other species present in Siltcoos are steelhead (in season) and rainbow and cutthroat trout which reach lunker sizes. P Heley