Fishing from shore at Howard Bay and Shoalwater Bay continues to improve

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


by OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Staff
4-17-2024
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Fishing from shore at Howard Bay and Shoalwater Bay continues to improve. Fishing from a boat is also improving. Catch rates are still low. Most bank anglers use dead minnows with a crappie rig setup. Most boat anlgers troll lures that mimic minnows or sculpins.‌

Hagelstein Park above Hwy 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 slow. Best location to fish is near the outlet. The lake is also turbid and cold but warming fast. 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 0.6 feet below full pool and 91 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 Wednesday, April 17th

Alsea River: The Alsea River has remained fair the past few weeks
Nestucca River: The Nestucca River is low and clear
Siletz River: The Siletz has been remaining fair and steady throughout March
Wilson River: The Wilson is low and clear but fishing has remained fair
Diamond Lake: Ice is off Diamond Lake and when conditions allow
Emigrant Reservoir: Emigrant is 65 percent full and continues to fill
Expo Pond: Expo Pond Fishing Report
Fish Lake : Fish Lake is 60 percent full
Howard Prairie Reservoir: Howard Prairie is 48 percent full
Hyatt Lake: Hyatt is currently 55 percent full
Rogue River - Middle: Flow is currently clear and slowly dropping in the middle Rogue
Detroit Reservoir: Water levels have increased enough for most boat ramps to be in the water
EE Wilson Angling Pond: Stocked again this week
Foster Reservoir: The reservoir water level is near low pool
Green Peter Reservoir: The water level in Green Peter continues to rise
Santiam River (South Fork): Currently flows are around 2,700 cfs at the Waterloo gauge
Crane Prairie Reservoir: 88 percent full and ice free
East Lake: Deschutes County has not released an anticipated reopening date for the road yet
Hood River: Spring Chinook fishing opened on the Hood River on Monday, April 15
Laurance Lake: Access to the lake is currently walk-in only
North Twin Lake: Excellent fishing for holdover trout
Odell Lake: Some Forest Service boat ramps may remain closed due to snow
Prinevile Reservoir: Prineville Reservoir at 99 percent full
South Twin Lake: Anglers continue to report good spring fishing
Wickiup Reservoir: The reservoir is 78 percent full and boat ramps are expected to be accessible for the opener
Blitzen River: Water temperatures are in the 40s
Bully Creek Reservoir: Bully Creek Reservoir is full
Campbell Reservoir: Catch rates for largemouth bass and bluegill should be improving
Chewaucan River: The river is very cold and swollen as spring flows are coursing through the system
Chickahominy Reservoir: Fishing has been good this past week for holdover rainbow trout
Duncan Reservoir: The reservoir is open and is spilling at the moment
Gerber Reservoir: The reservoir is 43 percent full
Holbrook Reservoir: The lake is open and fishing should be good

Trout stocking updates for Klamath and Lakeview areas

4-16-2024
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – Trout stocking in some southeast Oregon waterbodies will be delayed this year as ODFW crews adjust stocking...... Read More