Fishing can be surprisingly good

Detroit Reservoir - Detroit, OR


by OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Staff
1-8-2025
Website

The water level in Detroit is above prescribed levels from recent heavy rains. Anglers can launch boats from Mongold State Park for the next few weeks and take advantage of any breaks in the weather.

Pretty much any technique will catch fish, but it might take some experimenting to find out what is most effective on the day you're out there. Now that fall is here, activity on the lake will be quieter. Fishing can be surprisingly good, even during mid-day.

The reservoir gets stocked with trout during the spring and summer with many of these fish still available throughout the fall and winter and into next year. As a reminder, anglers are allowed to keep up to five trout, with an additional five fish kokanee bag limit. Kokanee fishing is mostly done for the year as the adults are moving up into the tributaries to spawn.

Also, as a reminder to anglers, fishing for and harvesting Chinook in the lake and the rivers above is prohibited. Any Chinook caught in Detroit must be released unharmed. Make sure you can tell the difference between a Chinook and a kokanee before you get out on the water.

It's always a good idea to check the water levels at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers website before using the boat ramps. For the latest information on water levels at Detroit Reservoir check with the Army Corps of Engineers' website for more information.

Anglers are encouraged to report their catch on an on-line form. Remember to indicate whether the fish you catch have their adipose fin or not. This information will allow ODFW to manage the fishery for the benefit of both recreational anglers and the resource.




More Reports

OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Reports
for Wednesday, January 8th
Grande Ronde River: Steelhead fishing is slowing
Imnaha River: Fun Trout and Whitefish Fishing
Wallowa Lake : Cooler Months are a Great Time to Fish the Wallowa
Wallowa River: Steelhead are moving into the Wallowa River
Deschutes River- Lower: Trout fishing can be slow
Hood River: Check flows before you go!
Lake Billy Chinook: Anglers report good winter fishing
EE Wilson Angling Pond: Pond Stocked With Trout
Green Peter Reservoir: The reservoir is slowly refilling
Junction City Pond: Pond Recently Stocked With Trout
Leaburg Lake: Leaburg Lake Updates
McKenzie River: McKenzie River (below Leaburg Lake) Updates
Middle Fork Willamette: Middle Fork Willamette Updates
Quartzville Creek: River Not Yet Fishable
Row River Pond: Row River Pond Updates
Santiam River (South Fork): Drier weather expected to change flows
Timber Linn Lake: Timber Linn Pond Updates
Alsea River: Varied success at the hatchery holes!
Kilchis River: Winter steelhead should be in the Kilchis
Necanicum River: Attention boaters!
Nehalem River: The upper river is dropping into good shape
Nehalem River- North Fork: Boating hazard on the North Fork Nehalem
Nestucca River: The Nestucca is dropping into shape
Salmon River: Winter steelhead is open
Siletz River: Winter steelhead have moved into the Siletz!
Siuslaw River: Winter steelhead is open in the Siuslaw basin!
Three Rivers: Three Rivers Updates
Trask River: The Trask is in great shape for fishing
Wilson River: Winter steelhead is picking up!
Yaquina River: Hatchery steelhead is open on the Yaquina
Agency Lake: Agency Lake Updates
Ana Reservoir: Fishing for rainbow trout has been slow
Campbell Reservoir: The reservoir is likely frozen
Dog Lake: Lake is Partially Frozen
Gerber Reservoir: Good ice fishing destination if frozen
Klamath River - Middle: Klamath River Updates
Lake Of The Woods: The lake is frozen
Link River : Link River Updates
Lost River: Lost River Updates
Miller Lake: Miller Lake Updates
Sprague River: Sprague River Updates
Williamson River: Upper and Lower Williamson River Updates
Wood River: Currently Closed to Fishing
Agate Lake: Agate Lake Updates
Applegate Reservoir: Applegate Reservoir Updates
Ben Irving Reservoir: Fishing is likely slow
Cooper Creek Reservoir: Fishing will continue to be slow
Diamond Lake: Diamond Lake is now frozen over
Elk River: Elk River Updates
Emigrant Reservoir: Emigrant Reservoir Updates
Fish Lake : Fish Lake is slowly filling
Galesville Reservoir: Galesville Reservoir Updates
Garrison Lake: Decent Trout Population at Garrison
Howard Prairie Reservoir: Howard Prairie Updates
Hyatt Lake: Trout fishing should be fair to good
Lake Marie: Lake Marie Updates
Lost Creek Lake: Very good opportunity for winter trout fishing
Plat I Reservoir: Decent Winter Bass Fishing
Rogue River- Lower: January is a very good month for steelhead fishing!
Rogue River - Middle: Middle Rogue River Updates
Sixes River: Sixes River Updates
Umpqua River: Umpqua River Updates
Winchuck River: Good Month to Fish Steelhead!
Gerber Reservoir: The reservoir can be a good ice fishing destination
Brownlee Reservoir: Not many anglers have been out recently
Oxbow Reservoir: Trout fishing can be good in these reservoirs during the winter

OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Reports
for Friday, December 20th, 2024
McKenzie River: Koi illegally dumped into McKenzie River prompts ODFW response
: ODFW Recreation Report