Fishing Willow Valley Reservoir in Klamath County, Oregon

• Overview

  Willow Valley Reservoir is one of the Klamath County waters in Oregon. The land about it is rolling hill. At 543 acres this is proper open water rather than a pond. The shoreline runs about 5.7 miles, so it pays to pick a stretch and stay with it. On our Klamath County list it sits near the top for size. Altamont lies 35 miles from the water. The nearest city of size is Chico, 162 miles away. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Willow Valley Reservoir

  No chart reached our records; the first cast is your sounding. Built water gives depth close in, which suits a bank angler. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. Fish documented in Klamath County include rainbow trout, klamath largescale sucker and brook trout. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. On Willow Valley Reservoir the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 30°F to 67°F. The year gives four workable seasons without severe ends. It should never be assumed safe, whatever the month says. The hot months push the fishing to dawn and dusk. It sets the rhythm of the year at Willow Valley Reservoir. The first warm days of the year bring fish shallow quickly.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. Boat access is recorded roughly half a mile away. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Should this one be busy, Bumphead Reservoir is 3.2 miles off. Check the position on Willow Valley Reservoir before loading the car.