Palisades Reservoir Fishing Report

Current Fishing Report: Good To Very Good

The use of new technology is helping anglers catch more rainbow trout. Forward-facing, and side scanning, sonar is currently the best way to locate trout, especially when they school in deep water. Rainbows are caught trolling, casting or jigging, once located on these sophisticated fish finders.

Fly fishing is not covered in this website, but rainbow trout are being caught on plenty of other lures and bait.

FALL. Cooling water temperatures in the shallows, draw rainbow trout out of deeper Summer depths. Currently anglers are catching them 10 to 15 feet deep on points, rocky structure, humps, and anywhere baitfish are gathering. Now that they had a full summer to grow, there are some bragging size rainbow catches. Small spinners, spoons, jigs, miniature crankbaits and swimbaits are catching trout, as are salmon eggs and prepared baits. Later in Fall, rainbows will be holding in 25 to 40 feet deep.

WINTER. When Winter sets in, and the lake safely freezes over, ice fishing is quite popular here. Jigging spoons, and jigs tipped with minnows (caught from this lake), are catching nice limits of rainbows out of 25 to 50 feet of water. After ice out, deep trolling with leaded line or downriggers, or vertical jigging with spoons and jigs, finishes off the cold-water season.

SPRING. As water begins to warm in early Spring, rainbow trout move from their late winter holding areas to shallow, warmer water 10 to 25 feet deep. Many rainbows are drawn to in-flowing water from run off. A good number of rainbows are being caught from mid morning to late afternoon, during the warmest water of the day. A wide variety of small spinners, spoons and bait are catching most of the fish.

SUMMER. Once Summer is here to stay, the warmer water drives rainbow deeper, 15 to 30 feet deep, occasionally deeper. Early and late in the day, they may move much shallower during low light. Trolling with spoons, spinners and crankbaits, using downriggers or leaded line, and drift fishing with bait, are currently the most productive methods. Following drop-offs along structure or creek channels, into deeper water is a major key to getting bites. Anglers fishing from the bank are using nightcrawlers or Berkley PowerBait, with heavy weights on a Carolina rig, to get baits into deeper water.

Current Fishing Report: Good To Very Good

Fly fishing is not covered in this website, but brown trout are being caught on plenty of other lures and bait.

FALL. Cooling water temperatures again draw browns shallower. Successful anglers are catching them 5 to 15 feet deep on points, rocky structure, humps, and mouths of bays where baitfish are gathering. Decent catches are coming on jerkbaits, miniature crankbaits, small spinnerbaits and swimbaits. Now that they had a full summer to grow, there are some bragging size brown trout catches this time of year. When they move out to structure in deep water, spoons, jigs and bait are catching browns.

WINTER. When Winter sets in, and the lake freezes over, ice fishing is quite popular here. Jigging spoons and jigs tipped with bait are catching most limits of brown trout, in 15 to 30 feet of water. When the ice melts, deep trolling with leaded line or downriggers, or vertical jigging with spoons and jigs, finishes off the cold-water season.

SPRING. As water begins to warm in early Spring, brown trout move from their deep winter holding areas to shallow, warmer water, especially into inflowing creeks and backwaters. The most productive fishing is happening from mid morning to late afternoon, during the warmest water of the day. A wide variety of jerkbaits, spoons and spinners and swimbaits are catching most of the fish.

SUMMER. Once Summer is here to stay, the warmer water drives brown trout deeper, 15 to 40 feet deep, and deeper. Early in the morning and at dusk, they are being caught shallow. Trolling around structure, using downriggers or leaded line, and drift fishing with bait, are currently the most productive methods.

Current Fishing Report: Good

Fly fishing is not covered in this website, but cutthroat trout are being caught on plenty of other lures and bait. The diet of these cutthroat trout consists of insects, small fishes and crustaceans.

FALL. Cooling water temperatures again draw rainbow trout shallower. Anglers are catching them 5 to 15 feet deep on points, rocky structure, humps, and anywhere baitfish are gathering. Now that they had a full summer to grow, there are some bragging size fish are being caught. Small spinners, spoons, miniature crankbaits and swimbaits are catching cutthroat, as are salmon eggs and prepared baits.

WINTER. When Winter sets in, and the lake freezes over, ice fishing is quite popular here. Early risers are having the best success just after sunrise. Jigging spoons and jigs tipped with bait are a good choice.

SPRING. As water begins to warm in early Spring, cutthroat trout move from their winter holding areas into shallow, warmer water - 5 to 15 feet deep. They seek our incoming water from snow-melt runoff. Generally, cutthroats will be drawn to these areas to spawn in clear, shallow water. Most cutthroat will be caught early in the morning or late afternoon. A wide variety of small spinners and spoons are catching most of the fish.

SUMMER. Once Summer is here to stay, the warmer water drives cutthroat deeper, 20 to 35 feet deep and deeper. They seek out deep holes near shallow water feeding areas. Fishing is best from dusk, throughout the night, and early in the morning. Trolling, using downriggers or leaded line, and drift fishing with bait,typically producing good catches.