The lake is open to fishing all year. Fishing remains very slow in the main lake. The algae is growing well. Redband Trout have moved towards water quality refuge in Pelican Bay, Williamson River and mouth of the Wood River. Fishing is slow to good in Pelican Bay area depending on the day. Best fishing is from a boat and covering lots of water. Some very large Redband Trout are being caught and released in this area.

Lures or flies that mimic minnows, sculpins, leeches or midges work best. Most bank anglers use dead minnows on the bottom on a crappie rig. Circle hooks can improve survival if you are practicing catch and release.

Please remember that nets or minnow traps of any type cannot be used to catch any species of fish. This includes minnows to use for bait. See page 20 of the Sport Fishing Regulations for legal harvest methods for minnows and chubs.

ODFW encourages catch-and-release on this fishery due to record low spawning numbers in 2020 and very low numbers in 2019 and the record setting drought from 2020 through 2022 which reduced survival. Please fight your fish quickly and then release your fish immediately without removing it from the water. Releasing fish is easier with barbless hooks. Using a very good rubber net also reduces the likelyhood of removing valuable scales and slime.

The lake is 3.7 feet below full pool and 43 percent full. 

Klamath Lake water levels

Please remember that once you retain your one redband/rainbow trout limit you must stop fishing for redband/rainbow trout. Also, all radio tagged redband trout must be released unharmed. Redband trout will have what looks to be fishing line coming from the abdomen.