Howard Schmidt Reservoir Fishing Guide, Columbia County, Oregon

• Overview

  In Oregon, Howard Schmidt Reservoir falls inside Columbia County. The coast is 34 miles away. At roughly 3 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. On size it sits at the modest end of our Columbia County list. Scappoose sits 5.2 miles from the bank. After that come North Plains at 7.1 miles and Warren at 9.8 miles. The boundary is near enough that local access rules are worth double-checking.

• Where to Fish on Howard Schmidt Reservoir

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. Public occurrence data for Columbia County names Coho salmon, bluegill and yellow perch. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. On Howard Schmidt Reservoir the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 62°F in August and bottoms out near 38°F in January. A lid forms in a hard winter only. It should never be assumed safe, whatever the month says. The cooler months are the comfortable ones to fish here. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Howard Schmidt Reservoir.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. Fishing from a pier is possible 80 yards away. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Should this one be busy, Kay Reservoir is 3 miles off. Check the current arrangement for Howard Schmidt Reservoir.