Fishing report
Thursday, January 17, 2008 1:08 PM PST
Oregon
Winter fishing is fun. Check the following waters to see what’s hot and what’s not. The Ana River is a great place to fish during the winter; water temperatures tend to stay warmer due to spring input out of Ana Reservoir.
Winter conditions exist in Lake and Klamath County. Access is difficult; paved roads will be frozen with snow drifts on north facing slopes, primitive roads will alternate between frozen to muddy depending on weather conditions. Desert Reservoirs, Creeks and the High Lakes are icing up. Ice-fishing opportunities may be available late winter.
BEULAH RESERVOIR: The reservoir was 18 percent full and inflow was 24 cfs on January 10. The reservoir is totally covered in thin ice. Fishing is poor.
BULLY CREEK RESERVOIR: The reservoir was 19 percent full on January 10. Angling is poor.
CHICKAHOMINY RESERVOIR: Watch for thin ice. Test holes at several locations indicated that the ice was approximately 10 inches thick January 10, but ice thickness can vary across any waterbody. Fair to good angling for 14 to 18 inch rainbow trout.
MALHEUR RIVER (Warm Springs Reservoir downstream to South Fork Malheur River): Flow is very low in this stretch of the river is since there is little or no discharge from Warm Springs Reservoir. Discharge from Warm Springs Reservoir was 0 cfs on January 6. Angling is poor.
MALHEUR RIVER (from the South Fork Malheur River near Riverside, downstream to Gold Creek): Flow is very low in this stretch of the river is since there is little or no discharge from Warm Springs Reservoir. Discharge from Warm Springs Reservoir was 0 cfs on January 10. Angling is poor.
MALHEUR RESERVOIR: Flow is very low in this stretch of the river since there is little or no discharge from Warm Springs Reservoir or Beulah Reservoir. Discharge from Warm Springs Reservoir was approximately 0 cfs, and discharge from Beulah Reservoir was 0 cfs on January 10. Angling is poor.
OWYHEE RESERVOIR: The reservoir was 25 percent full January 10. The county ramp near the powerhouse and the ramp at the resort are still useable the other three are not. Angling is slow.
OWYHEE RIVER (Lower): Irrigation releases below the dam were shut-off on Oct. 12. Flow below Owyhee Dam remains about 28 cfs. Brown Trout probably have quite spawning, but anglers still need to be careful around spawning areas to protect redds. Angling for rainbow trout and brown trout is slow
OWYHEE RIVER (Upper): Discharge at the Rome gauge averaged approximately 156 cfs on January 10. Angling for smallmouth and channel catfish is slow.
PHILLIPS RESERVOIR: Perch fishing has been good with size running 8–11.5 inches. Using jigs with, or without bait is successful. Ice is about 1 foot thick.
POLE CREEK RESERVOIR: The reservoir is covered. The water level at Pole Creek Reservoir is very near minimum. The reservoir is ice covered and a few anglers have tried fishing through the ice. Results are unknown. Trout angling is poor.
POWDER RIVER: Fishing for rainbow trout is closed from Huntington–Richland road bridge to Hughes Lane bridge in Baker City. Above Hughes Lane to Phillips Reservoir is open to catch and release, and use of artificial flies and lures only.
SNAKE RIVER (Above Brownlee Reservoir): Flow was 7,366 cfs near Nyssa and approximately 10,731 cfs near Weiser on January 10. Angling for catfish and smallmouth bass is slow. See Snake River zone report for more information about fishing opportunities.
SOUTH MALHEUR BLM STOCK PONDS:
Angling is expected to be poor. The reservoirs should be covered with ice. Thickness will vary with elevation. Roads are frozen.
UNITY RESERVOIR: Ice fishing for rainbow trout has been good. The fish are running 12-14 inches. The water level is rising (24 percent full) which can make ice unstable. Use caution.
WARM SPRINGS RESERVOIR: The reservoir was is 8 percent full and inflow at the Drewsey gauge averaged 64 cfs on January 10. Fishing is poor.
idaho
Boise River: A fair number of hardy souls continue to fish for steelhead and trout despite wintry temperatures. Fisheries people still have not seen or weighed the reported huge rainbow caught several weeks ago below Lucky Peak Dam, so there are no official details even now. The rainbow reportedly went at least 19 pounds, caught by a young Boise fellow.
C.J. Strike Reservoir: Fishing for trout from the bank has been excellent. Folks have been catching fish on white marshmallows and a small piece (1/2 inch) of worm fished on the bottom. The best catching has started around 9:00 a.m. Most anglers are catching their limit in about two hours. Most of the fish are 13-15 inches with a few around 19. Fishing between the dam and the Air Force Ramp seems to be the hot spot. No reports from boat anglers - should be excellent also with a small (1-2 inch) rapala type lure.
Lucky Peak and Arrowrock: Water levels are low in Arrowrock and Lucky Peak but trout fishing from the bank can be the best way to go anyway.
Indian Creek Reservoir: For an easy bit of ice fishing, this small impoundment near the Boise Stage Stop off I-84 east of Boise is turning out some small perch—seven to nine inches—through the ice. Water conditions have not been right for some time there to allow the good populations this little reservoir can potentially produce but it is close to town.
