KLAMATH AND AGENCY LAKES
FLY FISHING IN OREGON
Species: Wild Redband Rainbows
Fishing Season: Year-round
Peak Season: April-October
Rates: $425 per boat/day (2 people per boat)
Method: Chironomids under indicators, stripping streamers and nymphs on sinking lines, trolling
Hatches: Chironomids, damsels, dragonflies, PMD, caddis, calibaetis, tui chubs, and fathead minnows.
The unique wild Redband Rainbow trout fishery of Klamath and Agency Lakes is very fickle and challenging. Klamath Lake is 30 miles long but its average depth is only 12 feet deep. This means it warms up greatly in the summer months, forcing the fish to cooler lake inlets. Some of the more popular and well-known areas to fish in Southern Oregon are the mouths of the Williamson and Wood Rivers, both of which are spring creeks and provide cooler temperatures that are needed for these fish to thrive.
As soon as Klamath Lake thaws in spring, fish are concentrated on the southern end of the lake. They feed on baitfish, leeches and chironomids up against the shallow rocks. As water temperatures rise, fish make their way towards the springs at the north end of the lake. Fish migration is dependent on weather and water temperature.
Agency Lake is often referred to separately from Klamath Lake. Both bodies of water connect by a wide deep channel. Fish easily pass between both bodies of water. The fishery is really one and the same for type and size of fish available, techniques and recommended patterns. It's an incredible Southern Oregon fishing experience.
The native Redband Rainbow Trout found in Klamath and Agency Lakes are legendary but certainly not myth. Their average weight is 4 1/2 pounds; 6- and 7-pounders are frequent, while 10-pounders are not uncommon. The largest fish a guest has landed was 38 1/2 long and about 20 pounds. We encourage catch and release on all Redband Rainbows in this system.
Most trips on Klamath Lake begin early in the day as the lake is often windy in the afternoon. Because of the wind and because the lake is so large—8 miles wide in spots and about 30 miles long—we don’t recommend float tubes and highly recommend at least an electric motor to get you back to shore. We typically fish from drift boats or jet boats and don’t even think of fishing with anything smaller than a five weight!
If you’re planning to fish at this incredible Klamath Basin fishery, we encourage you to practice your distance casting before approaching these waters. Leeches, minnows and chironomids are the primary diet of Klamath and Agency Lake fish.
