Temporary river fishing

[Evan B]

Kind of a neat article on fishing the river that re-forms during a reservoir draw down. I did this once on Detroit "lake" where it re-forms an additional section of the Santiam.

Eye opening at the very least so see a bit of what is lost behind dams.

https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/travel/outdoors/2025/12/05/trout-fishing-lookout-point-drawdown-oregon-new-river/87592254007/?gnt-cfr=1&gca-cat=p&gca-uir=true&gca-epti=z114131p001350c001350d00----v114131d--41--b--41--&gca-ft=133&gca-ds=sophi

 

[SculpinSwinger]

I fish that section for variety
Hot spotters !

 

[clarkman]

Uh oh, pretty soon a local shop will be "guiding" there....

 

[FinLuver]

Some of the best fishing is during drawdowns.

 

[clarkman]

Some of the best fishing is during drawdowns.

Shut yer mouth.....


Jk....

True, but ya still gotta know where to step to avoid the quicksand

 

[Sam Roffe]

I’d be the one getting stuck in the mud.

 

[clarkman]

A number of years ago, I took my dog down there....perfect wide open space for such things. She was bounding along and all of the sudden disappeared. Ran into the water and into a deep hole. She was shocked more than anything....swam right to the side. But was definitely a bit more cautious after that.

 

[Fourbtgait]

Theres an area I have fished that is a reclaimed lake bed. Beautiful serpentine river now.
Hot as hell in the summer, the water and on your body. Really only fishable early, late, night.
Will take a number of years more for brush, trees to return it fully. If I remember correctly, it’s already been at least 7 years.

 

[Peach]

I have seen plenty of folks do this when Wickiup reservoir is drawn down to basically a river and do very well, but it isn't a secret and you will have company.

Peach

 

[Trout Trekker]

"Trout don’t live in ugly places.”

Maybe not, but as many of us know, some Trout do visit ugly places seasonally.

 

[John Svahn]

I live next to a reservoir that gets drawn down severely in late summer. Yep the fish stack up in the ‘creek’ but it definitely feels like fishing in a tub. I’ll trade small fish in a pretty stream or lake over the size and consistent catching in the reservoir. That said, cadfw switch from bows to cutthroats and they do taste pretty good!

 

[dirty dog]

Well I guess my secret is out.
Some of the hottest fishing I've ever had has been in the fall when the lakes have been drawn down and the cold clear creek water is pouring in.
And no I'm not going to name any of those lakes.
Another secret I'll give to you is when the river is blown out and muddy. Find a creek flowing in that is clear, it'll be fish on.