Fishing Fred Riddles Reservoir in Harney County, Oregon

• Overview

  Fred Riddles Reservoir stands in Harney County, Oregon. It sits in dry rangeland. Surface area runs to about 3 acres — small enough to read in one session. On size it sits at the modest end of our Harney County list. For a base, Hines sits 63 miles out. Burns is 64 miles and Lakeview 88 miles. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Fred Riddles Reservoir

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. Harney County records list rainbow trout, bridgelip sucker, mountain whitefish, common carp and largemouth bass among the fish reported. The county list is broader than any single water. Treat Fred Riddles Reservoir as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 65°F, the coldest about 29°F. The year turns gently, without extremes at either end. It is not guaranteed even in a cold spell, so check yourself. The hot months push the fishing to dawn and dusk. That is the shape of the year on Fred Riddles Reservoir.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. Expect 0.9 miles away in from where the car goes. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Fish Lake sits 6.8 miles off and takes the overflow. The position on Fred Riddles Reservoir is worth confirming on the day.