GRANDE RONDE, WALLOWA, IMNAHA RIVERS AND TRIBUTARIES: steelhead

A Nice Steelhead -Oregon Fish and Wildlife-

Steelhead fishing continues to be good and anglers are finding steelhead throughout most of the usual spring fishing areas in the Grande Ronde and Imnaha basins. Catch rates (hours per steelhead landed) in last week’s creel surveys were 8.9 for the lower Grande Ronde River, 3.8 for the Wallowa River Canyon, 3.4 for the Rondowa area, and 1.9 for the Imnaha River. Steelhead angling conditions will depend on weather and flow conditions and anglers should check river flows using the link below.

Steelhead anglers have a new area to fish in the Imnaha River basin beginning Jan. 1, 2010. Big Sheep Creek from the Imnaha River upstream to the mouth of Little Sheep Creek is now open to steelhead angling. The reach is approximately three miles and includes approximately two miles of public access on land recently acquired by The Nature Conservancy.  Anglers should use location code 144 (Imnaha River) when recording catch from Big Sheep Creek on their harvest cards.  The bag limit on the lower Grande Ronde, Wallowa, and Imnaha Rivers and Big Sheep Creek is five adipose fin-clipped steelhead per day. 

Check river flows

HOLLIDAY PARK POND AND BULL PRAIRIE RESERVOIR: trout

Ice fishing is fair in both ponds. Watch for thin ice.

JOHN DAY RIVER: steelhead

Recent warmer weather has also improved steelhead fishing conditions on the John Day. Fish have made it up to Dayville on the Mainstem and Monument on the North Fork but are holding in slow deep pools and fishing is only fair. Too much rain or snowmelt will make the river unfishable.  Only three fin-clipped steelhead may be harvested per day. All unclipped fish must be immediately released.

Stream flow levels at Service Creek

MAGONE LAKE: trout

Ice has covered the lake and access is by snowmobile only. Anglers should be cautious of thin ice. Ice fishing success for brook and rainbow trout should be fair with rainbows and brook trout to 14 inches.

OLIVE LAKE:  trout, kokanee

The Lake is now snowed in until next May.

ROWE CREEK RESERVOIR, TROUT FARM POND, LONG CREEK POND, CAVENDER POND: trout

Fishing for holdover rainbow trout is fair. These reservoirs and ponds are open all year but only stocked each spring.

TROUT FARM POND:  rainbow and brook trout

The Lake is now snowed in until next spring.

UMATILLA RIVER: steelhead

Steelhead angling was slow this past week with anglers averaging 22 hours per fish caught in the Pendleton area. Water conditions have been good, and steelhead are distributed throughout the system. Steelhead returns to date, to Threemile Dam are 1,698 and for the month of February were 415. Updated Threemile Dam fish counts can be accessed at accessed at http://www.dfw.state.or.us/fish/fish_counts/

WALLOWA LAKE: rainbow trout, kokanee

Wallowa Lake is providing fair fishing for stocked rainbow trout and anglers are catching some kokanee in deep water. 

WILLOW CREEK RESERVOIR: trout

The reservoir was stocked with 2,000 larger than legal-sized trout, which should provide good angling through out the winter months.

SOUTHEAST OREGON FLY FISHING REPORT

Weekend fishing opportunities:

• Ice fishing on Unity and Wolf Creek reservoirs has been very good. But ice conditions are changing so please use caution.
  
  
• Thief Valley Reservoir currently has excellent fishing for large rainbow trout.
  
  
• Fly-fishing (catch-and-release only) has been good on the Blitzen River.

If your favorite fishing spot is no longer listed

It’s probably because that river, lake or reservoir is closed for the season, inaccessible due to snow and bad roads, or offers limited fishing opportunities during the winter months. These water bodies will re-appear in the Recreation Report when they re-open next spring, or when access and/or opportunity improve.

Ana Reservoir Hybrid Bass -Oregon Fish and Wildlife-

ANA RESERVOIR: hatchery rainbow trout, hybrid bass

Ana Reservoir is open year-round for rainbow trout and hybrid bass angling. Water temperatures in the reservoir stay fairly consistent throughout the year. The reservoir provides good opportunities for winter angling.

Vehicle access around the southeast side of Ana Reservoir will be restricted or closed due to construction activity. Access to the south side of the reservoir will still be available via Caulkins Lane, and access to the upper Ana River available from Thousand Springs Lane.

ANA RIVER: hatchery rainbow trout

Water temperatures remain stable due to the large amount of springs in Ana Reservoir and in the river. Winter conditions include snow, ice, and occasionally mud. Angling has been good for rainbow trout.

BEULAH RESERVOIR: redband trout, hatchery rainbow trout, whitefish, bull trout

The reservoir is 27 percent full and average inflow was 59 cfs on Feb. 21. The pool remains covered with ice. Angling in the reservoir and below the dam is poor.

BLITZEN RIVER: trout

Flows remain stable, the discharge measurements at the Page Springs gauge are being affected by ice. Angling reports have been good for moderately-sized trout caught on flies. The entire basin is in a catch-and-release mode until spring. 

BULLY CREEK RESERVOIR: bass, white crappie, yellow perch, catfish, and trout.

The reservoir is 54 percent full on Feb 21. The pool is 40 percent covered with ice. Angling is poor.

BURNS POND: trout, bass

The pond is ice covered. Ice thickness was reported at 6 inches Jan. 25, 2010.  

CHEWAUCAN RIVER: redband trout, largemouth bass

Snow depth makes access to Chewaucan River upstream of Paisley extremely difficult.

CHICKAHOMINY RESERVOIR: trout

The reservoir is very low, the water is turbid. Water level is to the bottom of the boat ramp. The reservoir is covered with a thin layer of ice; it is not safe for ice fishing. There are several yards of open water from the shoreline to ice around the entire reservoir. Some trout may have survived the summer, but we cannot recommend traveling long distances to fish this reservoir.

DELINTMENT LAKE: trout

The reservoir is covered with ice. Ice thickness is unknown. The road into the lake is icy, with packed snow and ice for several miles into the reservoir.

Devils Lake: yellow perch, largemouth bass, brown bullhead

The lake is frozen.

DOG LAKE: largemouth bass, yellow perch, black crappie, brown bullhead

The lake is frozen. The thickness of the ice is unknown.

DUNCAN RESERVOIR: hatchery rainbow trout

The reservoir is clear of ice. Angling for hatchery rainbow trout has been slow.

FISH LAKE (Steens Mountain): brook trout, rainbow trout

The lake is covered with ice. Ice thickness is unknown. Angling is slow to poor.

FOURMILE LAKE: rainbow trout, lake trout, kokanee, brook trout

Access to the lake is blocked by snow at highway 140.

GERBER RESERVOIR: crappie, yellow perch, brown bullhead and largemouth bass

The reservoir is frozen. Ice fishing can be good for yellow perch.  Ice thickness has decreased.

JUNIPER LAKE: cutthroat trout

The lake is dry.

KLAMATH AND AGENCY LAKES: redband trout and yellow perch

Angling is good on bait and slow for lures and flies.

Redband Trout and Fly Rod -Photo by Roger Smith-

KLAMATH RIVER: native rainbow-redband trout

Angling below Keno Dam is slow. Winter conditions exist with anglers encountering snow, ice and occasionally mud. The Klamath River from J.C. Boyle Dam bridge crossing downstream to the J. C Boyle Powerhouse provides good angling this time of year for small redband-rainbow trout (6-11 inches). Angling in the river below the powerhouse is challenging due to un- plowed roads, deep snow, and steep terrain.

KRUMBO RESERVOIR: trout and largemouth bass

This reservoir is closed for the season. It will reopen in late April 2010.

LAKE OF THE WOODS: hatchery rainbow trout, kokanee, hatchery brown trout, yellow perch, brown bullhead, largemouth bass, crappie, and smallmouth bass

The lake is frozen although ice thickness is unknown. Lake of the Woods offers good ice fishing for yellow perch. Extreme caution should be taken to assure ice is thick enough for safe angling.

Link River: redband trout

Redband trout are available. Boats can be launched at Veterans Park.

LUCKY RESERVOIR:  hatchery rainbow trout

The reservoir is frozen. Thickness of the ice is unknown.

MALHEUR RESERVOIR: hatchery rainbow trout

The water extends out from the neck past the peninsula. The reservoir is covered with ice. Angling is slow for rainbow trout between 14 and 16 inches. The current fishing regulations for this reservoir are unchanged. Current bag limit is five trout no more than one over 20 inches.

MALHEUR RIVER (Warm Springs Reservoir downstream to South Fork Malheur River): redband trout and hatchery rainbow trout

Warm Springs Reservoir is at minimum water level. Flows below Warm Springs Dam have been shut off for the winter. Angling for trout is poor.

MALHEUR RIVER (from the South Fork Malheur River near Riverside, downstream to Gold Creek): redband trout and hatchery rainbow trout.

Flows below Beulah and Warm Springs reservoirs have been shut off for the winter. Flows in the Juntura area are about 10 cfs. Angling for trout is poor.

MALHEUR RIVER, NORTH FORK: redband trout, whitefish, and bull trout

Access to the North Fork Area is limited. It is most likely blocked by snow. No recent angling report. Remember to release bull trout.

MALHEUR RIVER, MIDDLE FORK: redband trout, brook trout, and bull trout

Access to the North Fork Area is limited. It is most likely blocked by snow. No recent angling report. Remember to release bull trout.

MANN LAKE: trout

No recent angling report. The lake is very low, and illegally introduced goldfish have disrupted the trout fishery.

MILLER LAKE: brown trout, kokanee, rainbow trout

Access to the lake is blocked by snow. Access is available by snowmobile or dog team. Be aware of possibility of sled dog racers using the access road in the month of January and February. The lake is frozen.

MOON RESERVOIR: bass, trout

The reservoir is covered with ice. Ice thickness is unknown. No recent angling report.

MURRAY RESERVOIR: trout

Ice fishing for trout is fair. Fish are averaging 12 inches.

NORTH MALHEUR BLM STOCK PONDS:rainbow trout

Access is limited by snow. The reservoirs are covered with ice. Angling is poor.

OWYHEE RESERVOIR: largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, black crappie, yellow perch, catfish

The reservoir was 29 percent full on Feb. 21. The only boat ramps open for use are at the powerhouse and the resort. All other ramps are out of the water. Angling for warmwater fish is slow.

OWYHEE RIVER (Lower): brown trout and hatchery rainbow trout

Flows below the dam have been shutoff for the winter. Most of the river is open.  Fishing for rainbow and brown trout is slow. Anglers need to be careful around spawning areas, as there are eggs in the gravel.  

OWYHEE RIVER (Upper): smallmouth bass and channel catfish

Discharge at the Rome gauge averaged 383 cfs on Feb. 21. Fishing for smallmouth and channel catfish is poor. All of the dirt roads are muddy and very soft, so access off paved roads is limited.

PHILLIPS RESERVOIR: trout, perch

Ice fishing for perch is fair.

PILCHER RESERVOIR: trout

The reservoir is closed to fishing until spring.

PIUTE RESERVOIR: hatchery rainbow trout and hatchery Lahontan cutthroat trout

The reservoir is frozen. Ice thickness is unknown. Reservoir is extremely low.

POWDER RIVER: trout, spring chinook

Catch-and-release for trout is allowed using flies and lures only from Mason dam to the Hughes Lane Bridge in Baker City. The remaining portions of the Powder River are closed.

Rainbow Trout - Photo by Roger Smith-

THIEF VALLEY RESERVOIR: trout

The reservoir is thawed and fishing from the bank or boat has been very good for 16-20 inch trout. Road improvements have increased access to the reservoir but the Powder River below the reservoir is still closed to fishing until April 24. 

THOMPSON VALLEY RESERVOIR: hatchery rainbow trout, largemouth bass

The reservoir is frozen.

UNITY RESERVOIR: trout, bass, crappie

Ice fishing for trout is very good. Fish are 12-14 inches. The edges are thawing but folks are still fishing. Use caution.

WARM SPRINGS RESERVOIR: smallmouth bass, white crappie, catfish, perch, and hatchery rainbow trout

The water level in the reservoir remains near minimum. It was 13 percent and average inflow was 131 cfs on Feb. 21. Angling in the reservoir is poor.

WOLF CREEK RESERVOIR: crappie, trout

Ice fishing is good for rainbow trout. Ice is thawing some around the edges but people are still on the ice. Use caution.

YELLOWJACKET LAKE: trout

The reservoir is covered with ice. Ice thickness was measured at 14 inches on Jan. 25, 2010. Angling has been good for trout in the 12 to 14 inch size range. Road conditions into the lake are generally icy, packed snow and ice for several miles into the lake. A hole was cut in the ice, several feet wide at the center of the lake. It is very hazardous, and anglers should steer clear of it to avoid falling into the lake.

Back to the top