Slow fishing in the main lake

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

by OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Staff
6-10-2026
Website

Catch and release for Redband (Rainbow) Trout will be required starting on June 15 through October 31 with no bait allowed. This includes Pelican Bay and tributaries Crystal Creek, Recreation Creek, Harriman Creek, Odessa Creek, Short Creek, Pelican Bay, Fourmile Creek, Thomason Creek, Fourmile Canal, and mouth of Williamson River.

Redband Trout have been tagged with acoustic tags from Link River Dam to Shoalwater Bay boat ramp. Please release these tagged Redband Trout. They will have two purple stitches or a scar on the belly. This study will help improve the understanding of how Redband Trout move and use Upper Klamath Lake and tributaries.

Closed to angling for salmon. The lake is open to fishing all year. Fishing is very slow in the main lake Visibility is approximately one foot. Algae has started early this year and most of Eagle Ridge is already showing abundant algae. Redband Trout are still scattered around the lake. Lures or flies that mimic minnows, sculpins, leeches or midges work best. Fat head minnows and age one blue chub are abundant 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 2026, very low numbers in 2019 and 2025 and the record setting drought from 2020 through 2022 which reduced survival. Redband numbers in the Williamson were also very 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 1.8 feet below full pool and 73 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, June 10th

Alsea River: Great option for crabbing and bay clamming!
Kilchis River: Cutthroat trout throughout!
Necanicum River: Cutthroat trout throughout!
Nehalem River: Cutthroat trout throughout!
Nestucca River: Spring chinook fishing as picked up
Salmon River: Salmon River Updates
Siletz River: More fish are moving
Siuslaw River: Jetties can be a great place
Three Rivers: Some steelhead are getting caught
Trask River: Some chinook are getting caught
Wilson River: Plenty of public access
Yaquina River: Jetties can be a great place!
Trillium Lake: No updates at this time
Turner Lake: Turner Lake Updates
Snake River, Mouth of Salmon River to Hells Canyon Dam: Bass fishing will get better
Snake River, Brownlee Reservoir to Swan Falls Dam: Lots of catfish and bass
Agate Lake: Rainbow trout still available
Applegate Reservoir: Holdover trout are evenly distributed
Diamond Lake: Angling has been good
Emigrant Lake: Largemouth bass fishing is getting good
Fish Lake : Good early season trout trolling
Howard Prairie Reservoir: Very good growth for hold-over trout
Hyatt Lake: Fishing should be good
Lost Creek Reservoir: Good bank fishing access
Rogue River- Upper (Above Lost Creek): Upper Rogue Updates
Willow Lake: Largemouth bass fishing is getting good
Agency Lake: Algae throughout the lake
Campbell Reservoir: Recent storm has slowed fishing
Cherry Creek Reservoir: Fishing should be slow
Corral Creek: Corral Creek Updates
Crystal Creek: Fair trout fishing
Fourmile Creek: Fourmile Creek Updates
Fourmile Lake: Access is currently available
Gerber Reservoir: Crappie fishing has been good

OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Reports

for Tuesday, June 9th

Alton Baker Canoe Canal: The midpoint of the canal is a good spot!
Blue River: Blue River Updates
Blue River Reservoir: Blue River Reservoir Updates
Carmen Reservoir: Will be stocked soon
Clear Lake: Big hatchery rainbow trout to come!
Coast Fork Willamette River: Chinook fishing should be good!
Cottage Grove Reservoir: Cottage Grove Reservoir Updates
Dexter Reservoir: Dexter Reservoir Updates
Dorena Reservoir: Open to fishing all year
Fall Creek: Fall Creek Updates
Fall Creek Reservoir: Fall Creek Reservoir Updates
Freeway Lake East: Fishing for warmwater gamefish is good!
Gold Lake: OPEN for the season!
Henry Hagg Lake: Cappie fishing can be productive
Hills Creek Reservoir: Great early-spring fishery on large fish!
Leaburg Lake: Stocked soon
McKenzie River: Upper and Lower McKenzie Updates
Row River Pond: The fishing dock has been replaced
Salmon Creek: Stocked recently and will be stocked again
Salt Creek: Salt Creek Updates
Smith Reservoir: Smith Reservoir Updates
Hood River: Chinook throughout the Hood
Kingsley Reservoir: Great reports on trout fishing!
Laurance Lake: Mixed success at Laurance
Hat Rock Pond: Hat Rock Pond Updates
Jubilee Lake: Road Access Closed for the Season
McNary Channel Ponds: Bass fishing can be good
McKay Reservoir: McKay Reservoir Updates
Umatilla River: Salmon and steelhead fishing is closed
Willow Creek Reservoir: Some nice trout catches!
Balm Creek Reservoir: Good rainbow trout fishing