Fishing Brownlee Reservoir

AKA: Brownlee Lake

Popular Fish Species
Brownlee Reservoir Fishing Video
Available Fish Species
Amenities
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Brownlee Reservoir, OR

Popular Fish Species Brownlee Reservoir, OR

Brownlee Reservoir Popular Fish - White Crappie

White Crappie Fishing

Plenty of healthy white crappie reside in Brownlee Reservoir, as they are making a nice comeback this year. The fish population is healthy and crappie fishing is excellent. The best time to catch crappie tends to be at dawn and dusk. Crappie always like cover and structure, so locate shallow brush and vegetation in Spring and Fall focusing on the 8 to 12 foot range. As the crappie move deep in summer and winter, follow points out to as deep as 30 to 35 feet, as well as ledges near channels at these depths. Live bait and small jigs are the most common method for crappie here. Black crappie also make this lake their home.

Brownlee Reservoir Popular Fish - Yellow Perch

Yellow Perch Fishing

Yellow perch are a popular species in Brownlee Reservoir. The lake continues to maintain a very healthy population of these perch, which have been a mainstay in the fishery for decades. Yellow perch are great table fare, and are a food source for many predator fish in the lake. Fishing for yellow perch is simple, their primary diet consists of minnows and other small fish, insects and worms. Yellow perch tend to gather in small groups and hang out on relatively deep structure, near cover and/or drop-offs. Use a small hook and sinker. Bait a small hook with minnows, worms or small jigs using 6 to 10 pound line.

Brownlee Reservoir Popular Fish - Bluegill

Bluegill Fishing

Fishing for bluegill is a time-honored tradition at Brownlee Reservoir. Young and old, beginners and seasoned anglers alike, all enjoy catching a bunch of fat bluegill. This year, much like recent years, the bluegill population is healthy and always looking for something to eat. Bluegill fishing is as basic as fishing gets. Any pole, reasonably small line and small hooks baited with anything edible, creates the ideal setup. Add a bobber and you can set the depth you prefer the bait to position. Bluegill hang around brush, rocks, vegetation or any cover available.

Brownlee Reservoir Fishing Video

Fish species to fish for...

Guide to fishing for smallmouth bass, channel catfish, black crappie, rainbow trout, bluegill and yellow perch at Brownlee Reservoir in Oregon.

A warm-water fishery, Brownlee Reservoir offers choice fishing for bass, catfish, crappie, trout, sunfish and perch. This is an 11,000-acre impoundment on the eastern border of the state, spanning over 50 miles of the Snake River.

One of the main draws of Brownlee Reservoir is its exceptional smallmouth bass fishery. The reservoir is home to a healthy population of smallmouth bass, which thrive in the cool water and rocky structures. In addition to smallmouth bass, Brownlee Reservoir also offers opportunities to target other popular fish species such as largemouth bass, crappie, and catfish.

Much of the 190 miles of shoreline is not accessible via land due to steep terrain or lack of roads. Richmond and Huntington are the primary access points from the Oregon side. Camping, boat ramps and other amenities are available in both areas. The lake sits at an elevation of just over 2,000 feet above sea level, offering a wide variety of both warm-water and cold-water fish species. Bass, crappie, catfish, trout and sunfish all reside here and flourish during different seasons. This waterway is a great destination for pleasure boats, kayaks, canoes and all types of fishing boats.

Primary fish species residing in Brownlee Reservoir

Click images for fishing tips and details about each species.

Brownlee Reservoir Amenities

Marina: NO
Boat Rental: NEARBY
Boat Launch Ramp: YES
Campgrounds: YES
RV Hookups: YES
Lodging: NEARBY
Convenience Store: NO
Bait & Tackle: NO
Restaurant: NEARBY

Today's Weather & Forecast

Public Boat Launch Ramps & Landings

Immigrant Gulch Boat Launch Ramp
Located in the northwest section of the lake, off Hewitt Drive, this is a two-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking.

Morgan Creek Boat Launch Ramp
Located mid lake, west side, off Snake River Road, this is a one-lane, natural ramp with gravel parking.

Swedes Landing Boat Launch Ramp
Located mid lake, west side, off Snake River Road, this is a one-lane, natural ramp with gravel parking.