With local rivers low and clear or high and muddy, anglers may want try the lake for some trout fishing. Usually the best time to fish is in the afternoon or evening after water and air temperatures warm some and fish become a little more active. Garrison usually has a pretty good number of carry over trout and some cutthroat running around this time of year. ODFW will also be putting excess hatchery steelhead adults in the lake in January and February for anglers to catch.

ODFW is implementing a tag reward trout study for 2017. Anglers will be asked to report tagged trout that are caught. Some of the tags will be worth money. Anglers can report the tag number to the ODFW Gold Beach office (541) 247-7605 or on ODFW’s website. Tags can be cut off or pulled out of fish being released. The study is an effort by ODFW to see what size of trout contribute to the fishery the best. Garrison is always an excellent trout fishery, and this study will only help improve it.