Oliver Reservoir in Malheur County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Oliver Reservoir lies in Malheur County, Oregon. Country round the bank runs to dry open country. It covers about 8 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. The nearest place of any size is Marsing, 42 miles away. Homedale is 43 miles and Wilder 47 miles. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Oliver 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. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. Malheur County records list rainbow trout, smallmouth bass, common carp and flathead catfish among the fish reported. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. Read Oliver Reservoir before you fish it and the day goes better.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put August at about 68°F and January near 26°F. Seasons here are moderate, and the fishing runs most of the year. It is not guaranteed even in a cold spell, so check yourself. June to September is hot work, so the first and last hours are what count. Plan any trip to Oliver Reservoir around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Mapping shows no built access close by; expect to walk in from wherever you can leave the car. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. The nearest alternative is Boulder Reservoir, 1.7 miles out. Signs at Oliver Reservoir carry more weight than any list.