Howard Lake is Accessible!

Howard Prairie Reservoir - Ashland, OR (Jackson County)


by OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Staff
5-19-2021
Website

Some rumors have been circulating on social media that Howard is inaccessible. This is not true. There is a low water boat ramp that was lengthened last year by ODFW. ODFW does not manage the reservoir levels in Howard Prairie, nor the facilities. Small boats can launch near the dam and anglers have been catching some trout.  Unfortunately with the low reservoir levels, Howard only received 5,000 legal-size rainbow trout this year. 

With the low reservoir levels, all other boat ramps are inaccessible.  

The Rogue Fish District is still interested in anglers catch composition, so there are trout stocked with differential fin marks representing different fish stocks. Anglers interested in reporting their catch or learning more about this program and what to look for, are encouraged to call 541-857-2411 and speak with the local STEP Biologist. Specifically, look for clips on ventral fins or adipose fins in your catch. 

The low water boat ramp near the dam is usable. All other boat ramps are inaccessible. 

There is a Hwy 66 and Hyatt Lake Rd webcam that may help if you’re planning an adventure. There is a Jackson County webcam at the Dead Indian Memorial Summit.

Howard Prairie resort campground is open and Willow Point, Klum Landing, Apserkaha, and Grizzly will be opening in mid to late May. More information on facilities can be found on Jackson County Parks website.

The reservoir is hovering at 10 percent full.




More Reports

OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Reports
for Wednesday, May 19th, 2021
Lower Willamette River: Lower Willamette River sturgeon retention season planned for two Saturdays in June
Nestucca River: Sprink Chinook Fishing Is Slow But There Are A Few Fish Being Caught
Trask River: The Trask is Still a Little Slow and Water Conditions are Very Low Above Tidewater
Wilson River: Summer Steelhead Should Be Showing Up This Month
Alton Baker Canoe Canal: Will Be Stocked Again This Week With 1,000 Legal-Size and 200 Pound Size Rainbow Trout
Breitenbush River: The Forest Service Road Up the Breitenbush River is Closed
Coast Fork Willamette River: Will Be Stocked Again This Week With 1,000 Legal-Size Trout
Detroit Reservoir: Will Be Stocked Again This Week With 4,200 Hatchery Trout
Dexter Reservoir: Was Last Stocked The Week of April 12 With 2,000 Pounder-Size Rainbow Trout
EE Wilson Angling Pond: Will Be Stocked Again This Week With About 1,000 Hatchery Trout
Fall Creek: Will Be Stocked This Week With 1,333 Legal-Size Rainbow Trout
Foster Reservoir: Reservoir Water Level Will Slowly Rise Throughout The Spring
Gold Lake: Gold Lake Will Open This Coming Saturday!!
Green Peter Reservoir: Will Be Stocked Again This Week With 7,300 Trout
Junction City Pond: This Pond Will Be Stocked Again This Week With About 1,500 Hatchery Trout
Leaburg Lake: Will Be Stocked Again This Week With 800 Legal-Size Rainbow Trout
McKenzie River: When Boating, Treat This Section of River Like It Is The First Time You Have Been On It
Middle Fork Willamette: Spring Chinook Are Still Coming Upriver
Quartzville Creek: Trout Are Active Year-Round and Anglers Are Allowed to Keep Up to Five Fish Daily
Salmon Creek: Was Last Stocked The Week of May 12 With 1,350 Legal-Size Rainbow Trout
Santiam River ( North Fork) : Trout Harvest is Now Closed and Will Not Re-open Until May 22
Santiam River ( North Fork) Above Detroit Lake: This Section of The River Is Closed to Salmon Fishing
Timber Linn Lake: Will Be Stocked Again This Week With Around 1,600 Legal-Size Trout
Walling Pond: About 1,500 Trout Are Going to be Stocked in This Pond This Week
Waverly Lake: This Lake Will Be Stocked This Week With About 1,500 Legal-Size Trout
Hat Rock Pond: There Will Be 1,000 Legal and 100 Trophy Trout Stocked This Week
Magone Lake: Fishing Has Been Excellent The Last Few Weeks
McNary Channel Ponds: There Will Be 5,000 Legal and 300 Trophy Trout Stocked This Week
Umatilla River: Steelhead Fishing Is Closed and Will Not Open Until Sept. 1
Antelope Flat Reservoir: Recent Sampling Indicates Excellent Overwinter Survival
Crane Prairie Reservoir: Anglers Report Good Fishing
Crooked River: Irrigation Season Has Started So The Water Level Is Higher
Davis Lake: Water Is Low and It May Be Difficult to Launch a Bigger Boat
Deschutes River: Anglers Report Good Fishing
Haystack Reservoir: With The Warm Weather, Trout Will Be Harder To Catch During The Day
Lake Billy Chinook: Bass Fishing is Picking Up
Lava Lake: Access To The Lake Is Open
North Twin Lake: Lake Will Be Stocked With Rainbow Trout This Week
Ochoco Reservoir: Water Level is Extremely Low
Odell Lake: Anglers Report Fair Fishing For Kokanee and Good Fishing For Lake Trout
Paulina Lake: The Road to Paulina Lake is Now Open!
Prinevile Reservoir: Trout and Bass Fishing Have Been Good
Shevlin Youth Pond: Pond Will Be Stocked Again This Week
South Twin Lake: Lake Will Be Stocked With Rainbow Trout This Week
Wickiup Reservoir: The Reservoir Level is Low But Boats Can Be Launched Safely At This Point
Agate Lake: There Should Still Be Some Trout Hanging Around At Agate Lake
Applegate River: Hatchery Staff Are Still Making Weekly Checks Here
Chetco River: Trout Fishing Opens May 22
Coos River: Trout Fishing In Streams and River Open This Saturday May 22
Coquille River: Boat Anglers Have Been Catching Shad On The Mainstem Coquille River Near The Town of Coquille
Eel Lake: Trout Fishing Has Been Good in Eel Lake for Both Boat Anglers and Bank Anglers Fishing From the Fishing Dock
Elk River: Trout Season Opens May 22
Emigrant Reservoir: Bass Fishing Has Really Picked Up in The Last Few Weeks
Empire Lake Lower: Bass Fishing Should Be Picking Up in Lower Empire Lake
Fish Lake : Fish Lake Received 500 "Pounder" Rainbow Trout This Week

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