Weekend fishing opportunities

• Fishing for both rainbow and brook trout has been good on Grande Ronde Reservoir.
• Smallmouth bass and channel catfish fishing has been good on the John Day River – though the bite may slow if temperatures remain high.

Send us your fishing report

We’d love to hear about your recent fishing experience. Send us your own fishing report through ODFW Fishing Reports -- the information will be forwarded to the local biologist who may use it to update various ODFW resources such as the Weekly Recreation Report.

ALDRICH PONDS:  trout,

The ponds are now accessible with a two mile hike. Weed growth is thick along the banks. A floating device is recommended to reach the best fishing.

GRANDE RONDE, WALLOWA, IMNAHA RIVERS AND TRIBUTARIES:  trout, chinook salmon

Northeast Oregon streams opened for trout angling on May 22. River flows have receded and trout fishing is improving.

The Imnaha River, from the mouth to Summit Creek Bridge, and the Wallowa River, from Minam State Park to the mouth of the Lostine River, opened for spring chinook fishing on May 22. Daily bag limit is two adipose fin-clipped adults and five adipose fin-clipped jacks. Anglers must stop fishing when they have kept two adipose fin-clipped adults. Check http://www.dfw.state.or.us/news/2010/may/050610c.asp for more details.

Chinook fishing is good. Anglers averaged four hours per chinook landed on the Imnaha and nine hours per chinook landed on the Wallowa last week.

Check river flows

GRANDE RONDE RESERVOIR: rainbow and brook trout

Fishing is good for both rainbow and brook trout. Fly fish using nymphs, or use a spinning rod with a rooster tail or spinners. Only artificial tackle allowed. Fish are ranging in size from 8-14 inches.

HOLLIDAY PARK POND AND BULL PRAIRIE RESERVOIR: trout

Excessive weed growth and warm temperatures have limited fishing success in both ponds.

HONEYMOON AND TEPEE PONDS, SALT CREEK SUMMIT, Mc GRAW: trout

These forest ponds are accessible and have been stocked. Fishing should be good.

Rainbow Trout - Oregon Fish and Wildlife-

JOHN DAY RIVER: trout, smallmouth bass

Fishing for smallmouth bass and channel catfish has been good. Warmer temperatures will bring a slowdown in the fishing.

Stream flow levels at Service Creek

Jubilee Lake: trout

Jubilee Lake has been stocked and fishing should be good for rainbow trout.

KINNEY LAKE: trout

Kinney Lake opened May 22 and has been stocked with legal and trophy rainbow trout. Fishing is good for both stocked and hold-over trout.

LONG CREEK POND, CAVENDER POND: trout

Fishing is poor, and will continue to be poor until cooler temperatures return in the fall.

LUGER SPRINGS POND: trout

Rainbow trout will be restocked in Luger Pond, northwest of Palmer Junction.

MAGONE LAKE: trout

Fishing is good for rainbow and brook trout to 14-inches. Warm temperatures will drive fish into deeper water.

Construction of a new boat launch area will begin in mid-July.  No boat launching will be available during this construction period which is expected to last into the fall.

McKAY RESERVIOR: crappie, yellow perch, brown bullhead, trout

Crappie fishing is good for 8 to 10 inch crappie with the evening bite being the best. Angling for yellow perch and brown bullhead continues to be good. The reservoir is full.

MORGAN LAKE: trout, bullheads, bass

The lake has been stocked with trophy and legal-sized trout. Worms or PowerBait with a sliding sinker works well. 

24" rainbow trout -Photo by Jessica Sall-

OLIVE LAKE:  trout, kokanee

Olive is now accessable and has been stocked with rainbow.  Kokanee will bite lures in the shallows for a few more weeks until hot weather drives them to extreme depths.

PEACH POND (Ladd Marsh): trout

The pond has been stocked with trophy and legal-sized rainbow trout. Worms or PowerBait with a sliding sinker works well. Fishing has slowed some.

ROULET POND: trout

The pond has been stocked with trophy and legal trout.

SEVENTH STREET POND:  trout

This pond has been stocked with 1,000 legal-sized rainbow trout.

STRAWBERRY AND SLIDE LAKES:  trout

Trail access to these wilderness lakes should open soon. Rainbow and brook trout are available in Strawberry. Slide Lake has brook trout only.

TROUT FARM POND:  rainbow and brook trout

Fishing is good. Construction will begin this summer to replace the picnic shelter.  The shelter area will be closed during construction and will re-open this fall.

TWIN POND: trout

The pond has been stocked and trout angling should be good.

UMATILLA FOREST PONDS: trout

The Umatilla and Walla Walla ponds have all been stocked and should provide good angling for legal sized rainbow trout.

UMATILLA RIVER: trout

Angling for rainbow trout is fair to good, Anglers are reminded of special regulations for the upper Umatilla River. Fishing is restricted to lures and artificial flies only and catch-and-release for trout.

WALLA WALLA RIVER: trout

Fishing is good for rainbow trout.

On June 13, 2010, Ron Campbell landed a 9 lbs. 10.7 oz. kokanee from Wallowa Lake – the fourth Oregon state record-breaking kokanee caught in Wallowa Lake this spring. The International Game Fish Association is currently evaluating this fish as a possible world record kokanee. -Photo by Ron Campbell-

WALLOWA LAKE: rainbow trout, kokanee

Wallowa Lake has been stocked with legal and trophy sized rainbow trout and is providing good trout fishing. Kokanee fishing is fair to good and anglers are catching some large fish. Kokanee are beginning to move to deeper water as the lake warms. The state record for kokanee has been broken four times this spring at Wallowa Lake, most recently on June 13. The most recent record kokanee is a new world record.  

WALLOWA WILDLIFE AREA, VICTOR, AND MARR PONDS: rainbow trout

Wallowa Valley ponds have been stocked with legal-sized and trophy rainbow trout.
Fishing is good.

WESTON POND: trout

Has been stocked and will provide fair fishing for rainbow trout.

SOUTHEAST OREGON FLY FISHING REPORT

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.

ANA RIVER: hatchery rainbow trout

Water temperatures remain stable due to the large amount of springs in Ana Reservoir and in the river. Angling has been good for rainbow trout.  There have been reports of good fishing for hold-over rainbow trout.  Blue-winged olive and caddis patterns have worked well in the past. 

ANTHONY LAKE: hatchery rainbow trout, brook trout

The Lake has been stocked with legal-sized rainbow trout. Brook trout are also available.

BALM CREEK RESERVOIR: hatchery rainbow, bass

Fishing is good for trout.

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

Water storage was at 67 percent full on July 12. Average inflow has also dropped to 67 cfs.  Both boat ramps are in the water. No recent report on angling in the reservoir. Angling below the dam is slow.

BIG ROCK RESERVOIR: rainbow trout

There is no water in the reservoir this year.

BLITZEN RIVER: trout

Water level in the river has declined to 184 cfs (July 13). Fishing is expected to be good. The basin from Bridge Creek upstream, except Little Blitzen, is open to the harvest of two trout. 

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

Water storage was 82 percent of full on July 12. Angling for warmwater fish is slow. 

BURNS POND: trout, bass

Fishing for rainbow trout has been good. This is a good location to take kids or get the family practicing casting.

BURNT RIVER: trout

Has been stocked twice. Fishing can be good below Unity reservoir. 

Ashley Abbot, 10, with her 7 # Large-mouth Bass caught April 11, 2010 -Oregon Fish and Wildlife-

CAMPBELL LAKE:

Hike-in access has been reported from Forest Road 28.  No Recent reports. Contact the US Forest Service Lakeview Ranger District at 541-947-2151 for more information.

CHEWAUCAN RIVER: redband trout, largemouth bass

The river above Paisley is open to flies and lures only. Runoff has subsided to low clear water, but the water temperature is rising. Redband trout hold in holes near town and around milepost 2 and 6 heading upstream. Wooly bugger and prince nymph patterns have worked well in the past and dry flies are now an option. The fly shop (943-3360) in town can provide more specific fly patterns.  Spinners and spoons are also excellent choices for catching trout.

CHICKAHOMINY RESERVOIR: trout

The reservoir is very low, the water is turbid. Some trout may have survived the summer, but we cannot recommend traveling long distances to fish this reservoir. Recent fishing reports show that catch rates are very low.

COW LAKES: largemouth bass, white crappie, brown bullheads, rainbow trout

Both lakes are full. The ramp is in the water. The upper lake was stocked with 80 pounds of rainbow trout fingerlings (~2,000 trout 5 inches long) on July 8. No recent fishing report.

DEADHORSE LAKE:

The road into Deadhorse and Campbell Reservoirs is open, as are the campgrounds!  No Recent reports. Contact the US Forest Service Lakeview Ranger District at 541-947-2151 for more information. 

DELINTMENT LAKE: trout

Access to the lake is open. Catch rates have slowed; recreationists are reporting rashes from swimming in the water. The water in the lake is not potable and animals should not be drinking it.

Devils Lake: yellow perch, largemouth bass, brown bullhead

Fishing has been fair for yellow perch.

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

The road to the lake is open. The water temperature was 71 °F on July 1. Electrofishing efforts on July 1 found that the largemouth bass were in very good condition.  Some of the largemouth bass transplanted from Hyatt Reservoir were captured during electrofishing. Yellow perch and a few crappie were captured as well.  All fish were released unharmed. The reservoir is closed to the retention of trout to protect native redband trout.

DUNCAN RESERVOIR: hatchery rainbow trout

Two bait-fishermen from Springfield reported good success using bait, but found that the bite did not occur until the sun was on the water. No recent fly fishing reports.
 
EAGLE CREEK: trout

Legal-sized rainbow trout will be stocked a second time for the July Fourth weekend. 

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

The BLM has opened access up to Fish Lake. The rest of the Steens Loop remains closed. The lake was stocked with legal-sized rainbow trout the week of July 6. Early fishing reports have been good.

Rainbow Trout - Photo by Roger Smith-

FISH LAKE (Halfway): rainbow, brook trout

The Lake is accessible via the 6625 road up the East Pine drainage.  Reports are that it is in rough shape and the going can be slow. The regular routes to the lakes are closed due to washout (66 Rd and via the 39 road to Joseph). Legal trout will be stocked the week of July 18. The campground is open. For updates, call the Halfway US Forest Service office at 541 742-7511.

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

Angling for rainbow, brook, and lake trout has been good for both bank and boat anglers.

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

The reservoir is very low. Water temperatures are low. With warming weather crappie angling should improve.

GRANDE RONDE LAKE: hatchery rainbow trout and brook trout

The lake was stocked with legal-sized rainbow trout. Brook trout are plentiful.

HAINES POND: trout

The pond was re-stocked July 2 legal-sized rainbows.

HIGGINS RESERVOIR: trout

No recent report but a few nice fish were caught earlier this spring. There is a gate ¾ mile from the reservoir but the public can walk in. The reservoir is not stocked.

HWY 203 POND: trout

Trophy and legal trout have been stocked several times. Fishing is fair-good. PowerBait or worms work well. A sliding sinker set up is effective, especially when there are weeds on the bottom. Small bluegill are plentiful, and fun for kids.

JUNIPER LAKE: cutthroat trout

The lake is not expected to fill this year, and will not be stocked with fish.

KLAMATH AND AGENCY LAKES: redband trout and yellow perch

Success for bank anglers has been slow. Fishing has been good for anglers trolling plugs and spoons.

KLAMATH RIVER: native rainbow-redband trout

Angling below Keno Dam is closed. The River re-opens to angling Oct. 1.

Large-mouth Bass -U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service-

KRUMBO RESERVOIR: trout and largemouth bass

Catch rates have been slow for rainbow trout and good for largemouth bass. Fishing is expected to continue to be good through the summer.

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

Trout and large mouth bass angling has been very good. Kokanee angling has been fair.

LOWER COTTONWOOD RESERVOIR: rainbow trout

Legal and catchable rainbow trout were stocked in the reservoir in late April, but no reports of success have been received as of June 6. 

LUCKY RESERVOIR:  hatchery rainbow trout

The road to the reservoir is snow free, but rough. A high clearance vehicle is recommended to access the reservoir. The reservoir is fairly full and the water was very turbid in mid-May. No recent reports as of July 6.

MALHEUR RESERVOIR:  hatchery rainbow Trout

There are a few carryover trout. The reservoir was stocked on May 20 with about 750 legal-sized trout. Current catch rates are slow.

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

Water releases below Warm Springs Dam have increased with the drier and warmer weather conditions. Flows averaged 475 cfs on July 5. Fishing is slow on the river. Fishing is expected to pick up this summer below the reservoir.
 
MALHEUR RIVER (from the South Fork Malheur River near Riverside, downstream to Gold Creek): redband trout and hatchery rainbow trout.

Water releases near Juntura averaged 922 cfs on July 12. Fishing has been slow but is expected to improve.

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

Access to the North Fork Area has opened up. Streams are low and clear. Fishing for trout is expected to be fair to good. Remember to release bull trout.

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

Access has opened up. Streams are low and clear. Trout fishing is expected to be fair to good. Remember to release bull trout.

MANN LAKE: trout

No recent angling report. The lake is low, and illegally introduced goldfish have disrupted the trout fishery. Lahontan cutthroat trout remain in the lake, but catch rates are very low.

Rainbow Trout - Photo by Roger Smith-

MILLER LAKE: brown trout, kokanee, rainbow trout

Angling for rainbow and brown trout has been good. Kokanee angling has been slow.

MOON RESERVOIR: bass, trout

The reservoir level is high. Catch rates have been slow for bass and trout.

MUD LAKE: rainbow trout 

The lake is about 45 percent of capacity and was stocked at the end of June. Any large fish in the lake are hold-over fish from last year. No recent reports as of July 6.

MULE LAKE: rainbow trout

No recent reports. 

MURRAY RESERVOIR: trout

Has been stocked with legal rainbows.  Fishing should be good.

NORTH MALHEUR BLM STOCK PONDS:rainbow trout

Trout angling at South Mountain and South Cottonwood reservoirs has been fair to good with catches of trout 8 to 12 inches common. Squaw Creek Reservoir is showing signs of a blue-green algal bloom.  Anglers with dogs should be cautious.  Road access is open to all ponds. Fishing is expected to be good in 2010.

NORTH POWDER POND #1: trout

The pond has been stocked with legal rainbows. Fishing is good.

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

Water storage was 44 percent of full on July 12. The boat ramps open for use are at the powerhouse, the day-use area, and the resort. All other ramps are out of the water. The water level is 8 feet below the end of the ramp at Leslie Gulch. Angling for crappie has been good with good numbers of fish in the 7 to 9 inch size category.  Angling for bass has been more sporadic with the changeable weather.  Crappie mortality has occurred on the reservoir following spawning in June. Reports of fish kills are being reported to the local ODFW offices, however this is more likely caused by the natural spawning activity and not conditions at the lake.

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

Water releases below Owyhee Dam averaged 191 cfs on July 12. Fishing for rainbow and brown trout is fair to good. 

OWYHEE RIVER (Upper): smallmouth bass and channel catfish

Discharge at the Rome gauge has dropped from highs observed last week.  Discharge averaged 193 cfs on July 12. Fishing for smallmouth and channel catfish is fair to good.

PHILLIPS RESERVOIR: trout, perch

Trout have been stocked. Fishing is fair for 9 to 14-inch rainbow. A few bass are being caught also. Perch are available and range from 8 to 11 inches. Largest perch (10-11 inch) seem to be near the mouth of the Powder River in shallow water.

Cutthroat Trout -Photo by Charlotte Ganskopp-

PILCHER RESERVOIR: trout

The campground is open. Fishing for trout has been very good, with fish being 10-12 inches. Crappie are biting as well and are 8-10 inches. Crappie fishing has dropped off in the last week but could pick up with weather changes.

PIUTE RESERVOIR (Guano Valley): hatchery rainbow trout and hatchery Lahontan cutthroat trout

There is no water in the reservoir this year.

POSION CREEK RESERVOIR: hatchery rainbow trout

Fishing has been slow at the reservoir.

POWDER RIVER: trout, spring chinook

Surplus spring chinook have been out-planted below Mason Dam. A total of 400 fish have been released. Two chinook may be taken per day. Please fill out a survey card at the kiosk below the Dam even if you don’t catch anything. This will help ODFW assess catch per unit effort of the chinook fishery.

SHERLOCK GULCH RESERVOIR: rainbow trout

The reservoir is a put-grow-and-take fishery and was stocked with fingerling rainbow trout in April. Legal-sized rainbow trout are the previous years fingerlings.  No recent reports as of July 6.

SID LUCE RESERVOIR rainbow trout

The reservoir is a put-grow-and-take fishery and was stocked during the last week of May with fingerling rainbow trout. Legal-sized rainbow trout are the previous year’s fingerlings. No recent reports as of July 6. A HIGH CLEARANCE VEHICLE IS REQUIRED TO ACCESS THE RESERVOIR.

SOUTH MALHEUR BLM STOCK PONDS:rainbow trout

The ponds in the Jordan Valley area were stocked on July 8. No ponds in the Cow Creek or McDermitt Creek areas were stocked. Road access is open to all ponds. Fishing is expected to be good in 2010.

SPAULDING RESERVOIR: rainbow trout

The reservoir was very low during the fall and most of the reservoirs on the east side of the Warner Valley received little additional water. The reservoir may be dry, but no recent reports have been received to confirm this.

SUNSTONE RESERVOIR: rainbow trout

There is no water in the reservoir this year.

THIEF VALLEY RESERVOIR: trout
Trout fishing has been good, especially in early morning. Bank fishermen can use PowerBait and a sliding sinker with good results. From boat, trolling with hot shots, wedding ring spinners, and ford fenders are good. Most fish being caught are 10-20 inches. Five trout per day may be kept.

Large-mouth Bass -U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service-

THOMPSON VALLEY RESERVOIR: hatchery rainbow trout, largemouth bass

The camp host at Thompson Valley Reservoir Campground reported slow to fair fishing during the last week of June.  He reported rainbow trout between 15-20 inches were caught near the dam using bait. 

TWIN LAKE (Halfway): rainbow

The Lake is accessible via the 6625 road up the East Pine drainage. Reports are that it is in rough shape and the going can be slow. The regular routes to the lake are closed due to washout (66 Rd and via the 39 road to Joseph). Legal trout will be stocked the week of July 18. For updates, call the Halfway US Forest Service office at 541 742-7511.

UNITY RESERVOIR: trout, bass, crappie

Fishing for trout has been good. Some fish being caught are 20-23 inches. Crappie are not biting yet but, with warmer weather, it may pick up. 

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

The water level in the reservoir remains low. It still is 44 percent of full and average inflow has dropped to 54 cfs on July 12. Fishing in the reservoir is poor.

WILLIAMSON RIVER: redband trout

Fishing for wild redband trout has been good. Large yellow mayflies have been reported hatching.  Black drake hatch is continuing.

WILLOW VALLEY RESERVOIR

The reservoir is very low. Angling is good from the bank while access by boat is extremely difficult.

WOLF CREEK RESERVOIR: crappie, trout

Trout fishing is fair-good.

WOOD RIVER: redband trout, brown trout

Angling for brown trout and wild redband trout has been good.

YELLOWJACKET LAKE: trout

Angling has slowed for trout; the lake was stocked with legal-sized trout in early May