Fishing Upper Saddle Butte Reservoir in Malheur County, Oregon

• Overview

  Upper Saddle Butte Reservoir sits within Malheur County in Oregon. The water sits 4,180 feet up. Nearest place of any size is Homedale, 22 miles away. For a city, Boise is 52 miles off. Within a short drive: Bar Cross Basin Reservoir a touch under 1.8 miles, Long Gulch Reservoir about 2.2 miles, Saddle Butte Reservoir a touch under 2.3 miles, Pinnacle Reservoir about 3.5 miles and Cunningham Reservoir a touch under 4.7 miles. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Upper Saddle Butte Reservoir

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Built water gives depth close in, which suits a bank angler. Species logged across Malheur County include rainbow trout, smallmouth bass and common carp. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. The shape of Upper Saddle Butte Reservoir decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 69°F for August and 28°F for January. A long season, with weather mattering more than the month. It is not guaranteed from one year to the next. June to September is hot work, so the first and last hours are what count. Expect Upper Saddle Butte Reservoir to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. No made access is recorded, so a short walk in is the likely arrangement. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Bar Cross Basin Reservoir sits 1.8 miles off and takes the overflow. Nothing here settles the position at Upper Saddle Butte Reservoir for certain.