For a bank-fishing trip west of Gervais, take Tesch Lane into St. Louis Ponds and head for Pond 3. Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) lists an accessible fishing dock at this pond and stocks it with rainbow trout in spring. Check the gate hours first, especially if you plan to fish after work in fall or winter.
Turn onto Tesch Lane before the railroad tracks
From Gervais, head west on St. Louis Road and turn left onto Tesch Lane before crossing the tracks. Follow the lane through the gate to the designated public parking area. The ponds are on ODFW property, and Marion County manages a park within the complex. Use the ODFW approach directions and follow posted signs once inside.
The ODFW access guide lists no site fee. Check posted notices or call the North Willamette Watershed District office at 971-673-6000 if your trip depends on current parking, gate or facility information.
Leave before the automatic gate closes
The 2026 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations list 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. April 1 through September 30 and 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. October 1 through March 31. The gate closes automatically at night. Start packing up with enough time to walk back, load the car and drive out before closing. Use the published schedule and posted notices if an older guide describes different winter access.
Find the Pond 3 dock or choose an open bank
Walk from the lot and use the pond numbers on site to identify Pond 3. The ODFW fishing-access directory identifies an accessible dock there, and ODFW lists paved paths and accessible restrooms in the complex. If you need a step-free route or an open restroom, confirm current conditions with ODFW before driving out. Keep the dock approach clear and use an open stretch of public bank if the dock is busy. Boats, float tubes and other floating craft are prohibited.
Plan around spring trout stocking and check the limits
ODFW identifies spring as the usual rainbow trout stocking season for Pond 3. The Willamette Zone fishing report can list the entire St. Louis Ponds complex as one entry, so confirm the pond number with ODFW if you’re making the trip for a particular stocking. A small spinner is a simple way to cover open water from the bank. In warmer months, look for a safe casting gap along the edge of vegetation. The agency lists bass, bluegill, crappie and channel catfish across the complex.
Most anglers age 12 and older need an Oregon angling license. The St. Louis Ponds entry limits daily harvest to one bass, ten crappie and two channel catfish, with no warmwater minimum length. For trout limits and in-season changes, check the ODFW Willamette Zone regulations before keeping fish.
Bring shoes with grip for wet banks and pack out discarded line. As alternatives, compare Walter Wirth Lake’s west-side access in Salem and Turner Lake’s public bank access. Find other trips in the Oregon guide index or Destinations, and browse the Outdoor Adventures shop before your next outing.
For another Willamette Valley fishing dock, compare E. E. Wilson Pond’s parking permit and walk-in approach north of Corvallis.
Map of the Tesch Lane approach
For navigation, search for Saint Louis Fish Ponds County Park, Gervais. The map opens that destination on Tesch Lane. The ODFW project record gives 1300 Tesch Lane, while the map listing shows 13100 Tesch Lane NE. Follow the signed entrance from St. Louis Road to public parking, then continue on foot to Pond 3.
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