Fishing from shore at Howard Bay and Shoalwater Bay is improving slightly

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


by OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Staff
3-28-2024
Website

Fishing from shore at Howard Bay and Shoalwater Bay is improving slightly. Catch rates are still very low. Most anglers use dead minnows. ‌

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.. 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 and cold. The Rocky Point area might be your best bet as water clarity is good and water temperatures are currently warmer.‌

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 0.8 feet below full pool and 88 percent full.

Klamath Lake water levels

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..





More Reports

OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Reports
for Thursday, March 28th
Alsea River: The Alsea river has been fair the past few weeks
Kilchis River: The Kilchis is just starting to rise but should be fishable all week
Miami River: The Miami will be fishable all week, with Friday being the best conditions
Necanicum River: The Necanicum will be fishable all week
Nehalem River: It is just starting to rise and will likely get high and off color by Friday
Nestucca River: Winter steelhead fishing picked up the past week on the Nestucca
Siletz River: The Siletz has been remaining fair and steady throughout March
Siuslaw River: The Siuslaw is open for retention of hatchery winter steelhead
Three Rivers: Three Rivers should be fishable throughout the week
Trask River: The Trask River is on the rise and may get a little off color by Friday morning
Wilson River: The Wilson is on the rise and may get a little off color
Yaquina River: Winter steelhead will be entering the system
Detroit Reservoir: Reservoir levels continue to rise
Henry Hagg Lake: Henry Hagg Fishing Report
Hills Creek Reservoir: Hiils Creek Reservoir Report
Santiam River ( North Fork) : Fishing is slow this time of year
Santiam River (South Fork): Currently flows are around 3,300 cfs at the Waterloo gauge
Willamette River: Willamette River Report
Haystack Reservoir: Haystack is currently at 75 percent full
Hood River: The Hood River flow was up over the weekend, but the river has still been fishable
North Twin Lake: Excellent fishing for holdover trout
Applegate Reservoir: Water levels at both Applegate and Lost Creek reservoirs are the highest they have been in March
Emigrant Reservoir: Emigrant is 53 percent full
Fish Lake : Fish Lake is 60 percent full
Howard Prairie Reservoir: Howard Prairie is 44 percent full
Hyatt Lake: Hyatt is currently 53 percent full
Rogue River- Lower: Anglers are still picking up a few steelhead
Rogue River - Middle: After a season of high water and periods of limited visibility, conditions have improved
Willow Lake: Willow is now 100 percent full
Campbell Reservoir: The reservoir is not frozen
Chewaucan River: The river is very cold and swollen as spring flows are coursing through the system
Gerber Reservoir: The reservoir is not frozen

OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Reports
for Thursday, March 21st
: ODFW Recreation Report
Owyhee River - East Fork: Fishing should be fair just below the dam