Idaho Fish Report

Fishing from shore at Howard Bay and Shoalwater Bay continues to improve. Fishing from a boat continues to improve. Catch rates are fair for redband trout. The area near the outlet is also producing some fish. Most bank anglers use dead minnows with a crappie rig setup. Some use night crawlers in certain areas. Night crawlers resemble leeches well. Most boat anglers 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 showing up in the normal hot spots in the lake. Fishing is fair. Best location to fish is near the outlet, Shoalwater Bay, Eagle Ridge or the Skillet Handle. Water clarity has improved, and water temperatures will be ideal this weekend. ‌

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 0.2 feet below full pool and 97 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.