Northwest Fishing Magazine July 2025 Volume 4 Issue 9 - Flipbook - Page 9
With water in it, Ochoco
Reservoir is three miles
long. Because it is an
irrigation reservoir, water
levels can change over the
year. Surface acreage at
low pool can go as low as
120 acres, but filled to full
pool by early spring this
year, the reservoir is full at
approximately 1,100 acres.
At full pool, Ochoco
averages 30 feet in depth
with a maximum of 100
feet near the dam. A few
lava outcroppings fortify
the banks but because of
up-and-down water levels,
shorelines are composed
of exposed silty bottom
and muddy flats. Mill Creek
and Ochoco Creek form
channels in the reservoir.
In the spring and summer,
afternoon winds can be
substantial.
When targeting rainbows
with a fly rod, try trolling
from a float tube, canoe, or
a pontoon boat. Fish along
the riprap near the dam
or on the east end of the
lake near the inlets. Use an
intermediate sinking line
and troll leech patterns like
the Woolly Bugger, Lake
Bugger and Mohair Leech
or a soft hackle wet fly like
the Carey Special.
Crappie are often in large
schools and may hold at
specific depths around
sunken structures. The
challenge lies in locating
them and plumbing the
precise depth where the
school is holding.
heavy bass in the lake. If
fly-fishing is the game, use
"bass nymphs" which are
generally on No. 4 hooks
tied like Woolly Buggers
but with a heavy bead and
black or yellow or orange
rubber legs. These can be
presented on floating lines
under indicators or cast
tight against the rocks or
other structures. Bass will
often take the fly on the
drop. And you might be
surprised by a big rainbow.
When fishing with spinning
gear, use spinner baits and
crankbaits, or curly-tail
grubs.
Ochoco Reservoir has been
overlooked for the last ten
Because of the abundance
years because it has been
of water, the trout fishing
hard to fish. But those days
is going to continue
excellently through July. But are behind us. This Central
Oregon fishery is running
this is a great time of year
full pool, and the trout and
to target smallmouth. And
there are some surprisingly bass fishing is full tilt.
Gary Lewis Bio
Gary Lewis is an award-winning author, TV host, speaker and photographer. Recent books
include Fishing Central Oregon, 6th Edition, Fishing Mount Hood Country and Bob Nosler Born
Ballistic. Gary has hunted and fished in eight countries on three continents and in the islands
of the South Pacific. Born and raised in the Northwest, he has been walking forest trails and
running rivers for as long as he can remember. Lewis is twice past president of the Northwest
Outdoor Writers Association and a recipient of NOWA’s Enos Bradner Award.
FOR A SIGNED COPY OF FISHING
MOUNT HOOD COUNTRY, SEND
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