Upper Klamath Lake - The lake is ice-free

The lake is ice-free

Upper Klamath Lake - Klamath Falls, OR (Klamath County)

by OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Staff
2-21-2024
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Hagelstein Park above Highway 97 is now closed to protect endangered Lost River suckers (C'waam), shortnose suckers (Koptu) and redband trout. ‌

The lake is open to fishing all year. The lake is ice-free. Redband trout are moving throughout the lake making it challenging to find fish. Fishing is very slow. Best location to fish is near the outlet. The lake is also very turbid. ‌

Please remember that nets or traps of any type cannot be used to catch any species of fish. This includes minnows to use for bait. See page 20 of the Sport Fishing Regulations for legal harvest methods for minnows and chubs. ‌

ODFW encourages catch-and-release on this fishery due to record low spawning numbers in 2020 and very low numbers in 2019 and the record setting drought from 2020 thru 2022 which reduced survival. Please fight your fish quickly and then release your fish immediately without removing it from the water. Releasing fish is easier with barbless hooks. ‌

The lake is 1.6 feet below full pool and 73 percent full.‌

Please remember that once you retain your one redband/rainbow trout limit you must stop fishing for redband/rainbow trout. Also, all radio tagged redband trout must be released unharmed. Redband trout will have what looks to be fishing line coming from the abdomen. These fish will be 6-20 inches long

More Reports

OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Reports

for Wednesday, February 21st

Grande Ronde River: Steelhead fishing has begun to slow as fish move upriver into the Wallowa River
Wallowa River: Steelhead fishing has been quite good on the Wallowa River over the past weeks
Ochoco Reservoir: The reservoir is 69 percent full
Prinevile Reservoir: Prineville Reservoir at 74 percent full
EE Wilson Angling Pond: Recenlty Stocked
Quartzville Creek: Flows have come down and are around 650 cfs
Santiam River ( North Fork) : River is currently running at around 2,600 cfs
Santiam River (South Fork): The river's turbidity is improving
Deschutes River- Lower: Lower Deschutes Slab
Wallowa River: Steelhead on a fly rod
Nehalem River- North Fork: Winter Steelhead!
Alsea River: The early winter steelhead have entered the Alsea River basin
Kilchis River: The Kilchis will be low through the weekend
Necanicum River: The hatchery steelhead run on the Necanicum River is nearly over
Nehalem River: The Nehalem fished well over the last week
Nehalem River- North Fork: Steelhead fishing on the North Fork Nehalem has slowed this week.
Nestucca River: Steelhead fishing on the Nestucca was fair last weekend
Salmon River: Early winter steelhead have been entering the system
Siletz River: The first big push of winter steelhead have entered the system
Siuslaw River: The Siuslaw is open for retention of hatchery winter steelhead
Three Rivers: There are hatchery steelhead available in Three Rivers
Trask River: The Trask River should fish through the weekend but may get high and off color early next week
Wilson River: Steelhead fishing on the Wilson River has been fair the past week
Applegate Reservoir: The reservoir near its normal wintertime level
Chetco River: Frequent storms have kept the river out of shape most of the season
Elk River: Fishing pressure has been light with all the frequent storms
Emigrant Reservoir: Emigrant is at 35 percent full and filling very slowly
Fish Lake : Fish Lake is 57 percent full and reportedly there is open water for bank fishing
Howard Prairie Reservoir: Howard Prairie is 39 percent full
Hyatt Lake: Hyatt is currently 49 percent full
Illinois River: The Illinois River is open to catch-and-release trout and winter steelhead fishing
Lost Creek Lake: Lost Creek Lake Fishing Report
Rogue River - Middle: The Rogue is currently in great shape
Rogue River- Upper: Lures or flies are now a good choice with the clear water conditions
Rogue River- Upper (Above Lost Creek): Heavy snow in Prospect continuing upstream has made river access likely impossible
Sixes River: Winter storms have kept the river pretty much unfishable
Gerber Reservoir: The reservoir is not frozen

ODFW has been stocking Wiper in a high-desert reservoir for more than 40 years

2-20-2024
ODFW has been stocking hybrid bass, called Wipers, in a high-desert reservoir for more than 40 years. These White and...... Read More