Fishing at Ketchum Reservoir, Hood River County, Oregon

• Overview

  The Hood River County end of Oregon holds Ketchum Reservoir. The ground round it is rolling hill. Surface area runs to about 13 acres — small enough to read in one session. Odell lies 8.3 miles from the water. Gresham is the closest city, 48 miles away. Close by you have: Crow Creek sits 4.2 miles out, Evans Reservoir roughly 6.7 miles, Emil Creek Reservoir sits 7.3 miles out, Camp Baldwin Lake roughly 8.8 miles and Look Lake sits 12 miles out. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Ketchum 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. Records held for Hood River County cover Coho salmon, Chinook salmon, largemouth bass and bluegill. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. Ketchum Reservoir fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 61°F for August and 30°F for January. Ice comes and goes from one year to the next. It should never be assumed safe, whatever the month says. April and May are the settled weeks, with October close behind. On Ketchum Reservoir the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. Mapping shows an empty shoreline: no ramp, no jetty, no marked entry. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Failing this one, try Crow Creek, 4.2 miles away. Treat Ketchum Reservoir as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.