Applegate Reservoir received 25,000 sub-legal rainbow trout in October. These trout should overwinter nicely and be ready to catch next year. If encountering these fish, please handle them with care. 

The only useable boat ramp at Applegate Reservoir is the French Gulch Boat Ramp. The boat ramp looks good to launch as the reservoir has risen in the last few weeks. It’ll be next spring before Hart-tish and Copper are usable again. 

All campgrounds are closed for the season.

Bait is allowed and 5 trout per day, year-round, on the streams above Applegate Dam and the lake itself.

There is a longstanding health advisory for consumption of resident species due to elevated levels of mercury. See Oregon Health Authority consumption guidelines or the 2021 sportfishing regulations for more information.

For a change of scenery, try driving up to the lakes above Applegate Reservoir. These lakes have illegally and stunted yellow perch with no limit. Bass and bluegill are also in these lakes. There also is camping available but expect crowds on the weekends.

With no significant precipitation over the last month, the reservoir has dropped to 8 percent capacity, with an elevation of 1,894.4 ft. Surface temperatures are 42 degrees F. Anglers can get the latest information by calling the US Army Corps Lost Creek Lake and Applegate Reservoir projects information line at 1-800-472-2434.