Po'opueo Reservoir in Kauai County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  The Kauai County end of Hawaii holds Po'opueo Reservoir. It sits 4 miles in from the sea. By elevation it is in the upper part of our Hawaii listings. Waimea is the closest place, 4.3 miles off. Hanapēpē Heights is 4.7 miles away, with Hanapēpē at 5.3 miles. Within a short drive: Waikoloi Reservoir within 1 mile, 'A'aka Reservoir 1.2 miles, Kepani Reservoir within 1.5 miles, Kaawanui Reservoir 2.5 miles and Kalaeloa Reservoir within 2.7 miles. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Po'opueo Reservoir

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. Documented catches and surveys in the area cover smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, mozambique tilapia, peacock cichlid and bluegill. Reported species tell you what lives around here, nothing more. The near bank of Po'opueo Reservoir is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect August near 78°F and February near 69°F on the long-run figures. The year runs unbroken and warm. March through May is the strongest run, with autumn a second stretch. April and May are the settled weeks, with October close behind. Po'opueo Reservoir fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. Formal access is not mapped, so the last stretch is likely on foot. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Should this one be busy, Waikoloi Reservoir is 1 mile off. Treat access at Po'opueo Reservoir as something to verify.