Anderson Reservoir, Oregon: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Anderson Reservoir is a Malheur County water, in Oregon. Elevation runs to 3,816 feet. The water covers some 51 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. With about 2.7 miles of edge, you can try several depths in one session. It ranks high for size among our Malheur County listings. The town to know is Marsing, 78 miles out. After that come Homedale at 78 miles and Wilder at 82 miles. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Anderson Reservoir

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Malheur County records list rainbow trout, smallmouth bass and common carp among the fish reported. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. On Anderson Reservoir that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 70°F and January at 29°F. The freeze here is occasional rather than annual. Hard water here is never dependable, so check for yourself before stepping out. Spring and autumn carry the year; summer squeezes it into the ends of the day. It holds true on Anderson Reservoir more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. Mapped as intermittent, it fills after rain and shrinks between. Nothing in the way of made access shows up nearby: no ramp, no car park, no path. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Rockhouse Reservoir sits 13 miles off and takes the overflow. Check the position at Anderson Reservoir before loading the car.