Oregon Coast Lakes: Woahink Lake

While the initial allure of the Oregon Coast may be, well, the ocean, there is a whole world to explore beyond the beach. If you’re looking to be on the water, but don’t have your sea legs, Oregon Coast lakes offer a ton of fun on freshwater. Boating, fishing, kayaking, swimming (on a few rare days when it’s hot enough to want to) are all available on dozens of beautiful Oregon Coast lakes that dot the coastline.

One of my personal favorites, for reasons that are somewhat biased, is Woahink Lake. Does the fact that I drive past it everyday, live across the road from it and can see it from my yard have anything to do with it? Maybe. Maybe not. I’ll never tell.

Sunset on Woahink Lake

I will tell you this: our daily journey home requires a drive down Canary Road and this means driving over three small bridges that span the arms of the lake. One sunny afternoon while driving Cam home from school, as we approached the third bridge, I saw something big and brown swoop out of the sky. Was it a duck? A branch? My imagination? No, it was a bald eagle. A giant freaking BALD EAGLE, swooping over the water with his talons stretched out, trying repeatedly to catch a fish! I slammed on the brakes (thankfully so did the truck behind me) and we pulled over to watch a BALD EAGLE catch his dinner ten feet in front of our faces. If you don’t think that’s enough reason to like a lake, well, then…have fun in Canada, you unpatriotic fool!

Take the fact that I live near Woahink Lake, or even the eagle, out of the equation and I’d still be a fan of this Oregon Coast lake.

About Woahink Lake:

Located in Dunes City, Oregon, Woahink Lake is about three miles inland from the Pacific Ocean. A portion of the lake runs along Highway 101, making it highly visible to travelers on the highway. On the western shore lies a part of Jessie T. Honeyman State Park. The park area boasts a public boat launch, big picnic area, surprisingly nice bathrooms and a small beach/swimming area. This is the most popular public access point.

While most of the lakeshore outside of Honeyman State Park is privately owned, surrounded by lakefront homes and Highway 101, there is still plenty of beautiful Oregon Coast lake shore for public use lined with proud, tall conifers. With an approximate surface area of 800 acres, Woahink Lake varies in depth with the deepest part around 75 feet – or at least that’s what our fish finder says. The lake drains to neighboring Oregon Coast lake, Siltcoos, through Little Woahink Creek.

Woahink Lake Fishing:

Woahink Lake is home to a variety of fish species, including:

• Rainbow Trout
• Largemouth Bass
• Smallmouth Bass
• Yellow Perch
• Coastal cutthroat and Black Crappie (or so people say…)

I’m not positioning myself as any expert fisher(wo)man here, but I’ve found that fishing in Woahink Lake can be a bit tough. In deeper parts of the lake, we have had some success with down rigging. Bass fisherman congregate in the three arms of the lake, north of the bridges. Folks fishing from the shore seem to prefer fishing off of the bridges, and all will likely net you a fish or two. But don’t count on filling your belly off of a couple hours on Woahink Lake. Unless you’re my mother-in-law. She’s caught more fish from there than any of us.

And if you want to tell me I’m full of crap, please…share your secrets.

Woahink Lake Boating:

A paved public launch is available for use with no fee at the West Woahink area of Honeyman State Park. Plenty of boat & trailer parking is available, and never full. Note that the dock is relatively short, long enough for only one boat, but it gets the job done. This is also a very popular launch spot for kayaks, canoes and paddle boards.

Woahink Lake sees plenty of glassy mornings, typically in the Fall, that are perfect for waterskiing or tubing before the wind kicks up in the afternoon hours. And if you don’t want to fish, or tube, or ski, this Oregon Coast lake is a perfectly beautiful setting for just motoring around the lake. Bring a jacket, though. On most days this isn’t wear a bikini and get a great tan kind of lake life.

Other Woahink Lake Recreation:

The beauty of Honeyman State Park is the vast number of recreational options that exist within the State Park, including:

• Picnicking
  If you’re hosting a crowd you can also reserve the Woahink Picnic shelter for $50 through Oregon State Parks.
• Hiking on a series of well-maintained trails
• Swimming. A small beach area just inside the West Woahink entrance is a popular spot for splashing in the lake on those few warm Oregon Coast days.
• Camping. Group camping is available at Honeyman Group Camp (reservations are required)
• Scuba diving. I’m not making this up. The parking area just over the first bridge on Canary Road is an incredibly popular spot for SCUBA clubs to meet and dive.
• Event rentals. West Woahink Meeting Hall is also available for rent from Oregon State Parks for $75 per day.
• Watching bald eagles. I’m just sayin’. More often than not, when we’re out on the lake, we see one. I’m not making guarantees here, just bring your binocluars maybe.

West Woahink Meeting Hall

If you find yourself south of Florence, come visit Dunes City and take in the beauty of Woahink Lake. It’s got a little bit of something for everyone without a big crowd.

Have fun out there,
Nat