Anglers have reported catching lots of small Chinook salmon in pursuit of kokanee and trout

OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Staff

Report Date:

http://www.dfw.state.or.us

The reservoir was stocked several times this summer with tens of thousands of one-pound hatchery trout. It will be stocked this week with 3,800 one-pound hatchery trout. Water levels are slowly dropping as dry conditions continue. The only current boat ramp available is at Mongold State Park. 

For the latest information on water levels at Detroit Reservoir check with the Army Corps of Engineers’ website for more information.

Pretty much all techniques will catch fish, but it might take some experimenting to find out what is most effective on the day you’re out there. You will vastly improve your chances of catching a fish if you fish early or late in the day when light-levels are low and fish are less wary. The upper water column of the lake is uncomfortably warm for cold water fish such as trout and kokanee, so use techniques that get your hook deep where the fish are. 

Kokanee fishing is wrapping up for the season as the adult fish are preparing their spawning runs up the tributary creeks.         

Anglers have reported catching lots of small Chinook salmon in pursuit of kokanee and trout. Please take extra care in releasing these fish back into the water unharmed, as they are listed species and are only in the reservoir temporarily before they migrate downstream and out to the ocean.   

As a reminder to anglers, fishing for and harvesting Chinook in the lake and the rivers above is prohibited. Any Chinook caught in Detroit must be released unharmed.

Anglers are encouraged to report their catch on forms available at signs and kiosks which have been installed at key locations around the lake. Simply fill out the form and return in the designated drop boxes. There is also an on-line form. Remember to indicate whether the fish you catch have their adipose fin or not. This information will allow ODFW to manage the fishery for the benefit of both recreational anglers and the resource.

More Reports


OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Reports
for Wednesday, September 22nd, 2021
: Pacific halibut sport fishery addition; tagging clarification
Ana Reservoir: Fish were actively eating mayflies and caddis flies on the surface
Ana River: Fly-fishing should be good right now
Campbell Reservoir:  Fishing not recommended at this time
Dog Lake: Dog Lake Fishing Report
Duncan Reservoir: This reservoir is now dry
Gerber Reservoir: Targeting yellow perch continues to be your best bet
Upper Klamath Lake: Water quality is improving
Klamath River - Upper - OR: Klamath River Fishing Report
Lake Of The Woods: Fishing for yellow perch will be your best bet
Miller Lake: Fishing is fair for rainbow trout as effort has been high
Sprague River: Best fishing is from a boat near Beatty
Thompson Valley Reservoir: Thompson Valley Reservoir Report
Williamson River: Lower Williamson River Report
Wood River: One of the best bets for fishing right now
Arizona Pond: Slow, water levels are dropping and the pond is very weedy
Ben Irving Reservoir: Bass fishing will likely slow
Cooper Creek Reservoir: Scheduled to Be Stocked Soon
Diamond Lake: The fish should be on the bite
Galesville Reservoir: Galesville Reservoir Report
Illinois River: There is no salmon fishing allowed on the Illinois River, and beginning Oct.1
Kilchis River: A few salmon may be available in the tidewater sections
Miami River: A few salmon may be available in the tidewater sections of the stream
Nehalem River: The wild Chinook bag limit expands to 2 per day on Sept. 16
Trask River: Trask River Fishing Report
Fern Ridge Reservoir: The reservoir is getting lower
Foster Reservoir: Foster Reservoir Fishing Report
Hills Creek Reservoir: Hills Creek Reservoir Fishing Report
Grande Ronde River: Trout fishing can be quite good during the fall
Imnaha River: Imnaha River Steelhead Report
Wallowa River: Wallowa River Report
Snake River- Below Hells Canyon Reservoir: Bass fishing will be good throughout the Oregon section of the Snake River
OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Reports
for Thursday, September 16th, 2021
Columbia River: Columbia River salmon fishing reopens from Tongue Point/Rocky Point to Warrior Rock on Sept. 17; four additional sturgeon retention days add
: Public comment requested on draft Dungeness crab fishery management plan
: ODFW Recreation Report
Bradley Lake: Bradley Lake is scheduled to be stocked with fall rainbow trout in mid-October
Chetco River: A few anglers are starting to troll the estuary for salmon
Cooper Creek Reservoir: Lots of Rain in The Forecast
Coquille River: Striped bass fishing is starting to pick up again in the lower Coquille River
Diamond Lake: The lake is lower than normal
Eel Lake: Anglers reported catching a few trout this past week
Fish Lake : The current lake level is 16 percent full and is slowly filling with input from natural springs
Galesville Reservoir: The reservoir is about 7 feet above the lowest height on record
Illinois River: The Illinois is open to trout fishing
Lake Selmac: Water levels have been dropping slowly
Lemolo Lake: Lemolo should be a great place to try this week
Lost Creek Lake: Trout fishing should still be good
Rogue River - Middle: There is less than one month left for Chinook fishing between Hog Creek boat ramp and Fishers Ferry
Rogue River- Upper: Upper Rogue River Report
Rogue River- Upper (Above Lost Creek): Still Plenty of Fish Hanging Around
Sixes River: Temporary low water fishing closure will start Oct. 1
Willow Lake: Trout, bass, crappie and perch are most prevalent here
Alsea River: Fall Chinook fishing continues to be steady on the Alsea
Kilchis River: Cutthroat trout are available throughout the Kilchis River
Miami River: Cutthroat trout fishing in the Miami should be fair to good
Nehalem River: Chinook fishing continues to be fair to good throughout the bay
Salmon River: Fall Chinook fishing is picking up on the Salmon River
Siletz River: The Siletz Basin will have a limited wild coho fishery this year
Trask River: Anglers will find sea-run cutthroat trout throughout the Trask
Wilson River: Summer steelhead fishing on the Wilson has been slow this year
Yaquina River: Fall Chinook fishing continues to improve on the Yaquina
Detroit Reservoir: Water levels are slowly dropping as dry conditions continue
Foster Reservoir: This reservoir is still full and all three boat ramps are currently
Green Peter Reservoir: Green Peter Reservoir Report
McKenzie River: McKenzie River Fishing Report
Quartzville Creek: Rain is forecasted for this weekend
Santiam River ( North Fork) Above Detroit Lake: Hatchery trout harvest is now open until Oct. 31
Santiam River (South Fork): Currently flows are around 1250 cfs at the Waterloo gage


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