| Malheur Reservoir covers 1,400 acres. Yet it averages less than 20 feet in depth. During years of good water supply, planted rainbows reach 20 inches by their third season, feasting on a rich supply of all the typical still-water trout foods, including abundant Chironomids, scuds, snails and damsels. Malheur fishes best during April and May and again from late September through October. Malheur abounds in perfect float tube water, offering lots of near-shore shallows where trout cruise morning and evening. During mid-day, trout feed in slightly deeper water, where extensive weed beds harbor abundant insects, scuds, leeches and snails. An improved boat ramp is located near the dam. Primitive campsites lie scattered about near the dam and the access roads. Relatively remote, Malheur Reservoir lies north of Highway 26, about halfway between the communities of Brogan and Ironside. Willow Creek Road (gravel) reaches the reservoir from either town. Other routes lead in from the north and east from Interstate-84. Use caution during wet weather and early in the spring as the gravel/dirt roads near the reservoir often get sticky and slippery. The reservoir produces super-fat rainbows from 14- to 20-plus inches in length. |
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