| Thief Valley Reservoir and most of its 909 acres are inundated, with 740 acres of water surface providing about 10 miles of shoreline. A portion of the reservoir area has been set aside for recreational use. Camping, picnicking, and boat launching and mooring facilities have been constructed. Union County administers this site for Reclamation. The reservoir has developed a reputation for excellent fishing for trout, largemouth bass, and black crappie which have been planted in the reservoir. Large numbers of waterfowl use the reservoir and ducks have established nests. The reservoir offers good action for 14- to 20-inch rainbow trout. Its proximity to Baker City and La Grande assure moderate to heavy fishing pressure, but this reservoir is not usually crowded because boaters tend to disperse to the far corners. Ice-off usually occurs by early April and during years of good water supply and can last through early July. Fly anglers who wait until October often enjoy the best fishing opportunities of the year. Chironomid hatches occur during the spring and early summer, although visitors can not count on a good hatch every day. Callibaetis mayflies appear in limited numbers by late April and water beetles become increasingly active and evident as spring progresses. Most of the time, searching patterns and leech imitations produce plenty of fish. Among the most productive tactics is to employ a two-fly rig with a black leech or bugger as the lead fly, trailed by a No. 10 or 12 Zugbug or Prince Nymph. A mid-day wind often turns Thief Valley into a white-capped froth, but float tubers can still enjoy fast action on trolled flies. |
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