UPPER KLAMATH LAKE: Native redband trout, yellow perch, kokanee, pumpkinseed, brown bullhead, tui chub and blue chub

Closed to angling for salmon. The lake is open to fishing all year. Fishing is slow in the main lake but catch is increasing with warmer weather. The lake had cleared as of Tuesday but the wind and storm coming through will increase the turbidity.. Lures or flies that mimic minnows, sculpins, leeches or midges work best. Most bank anglers use dead minnow on the bottom on a crappie rig. Circle hooks can improve survival if you are practicing catch and release. Fat head minnows are already showing themselives in schools in the shallows.

Please remember that nets or minnow 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 through 2022 which reduced survival. Redband numbers in the Williamson were also poor the past two years. Please fight your fish quickly and then release your fish immediately without removing it from the water. Releasing fish is easier with barbless hooks. Using a very good rubber net also reduces the likelihood of removing valuable scales and slime.

The lake is 0.8 foot below full pool and 89 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.