Anglers are reporting excellent kokanee fishing

Lake Billy Chinook - Culvar, OR (Jefferson County)


by OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Staff
1-8-2026
Website

The Metolius Arm of Lake Billy Chinook closed to angling on November 1 and will reopen March 1, 2026.

Anglers are reporting excellent kokanee fishing with nice size fish being landed on the Crooked and Deschutes Arms. Fish have been moving deeper in the water column over the last few weeks as water temperatures decline.

Tips for catching more kokanee

Harvest is limited to 1 bull trout over 24 inches under the daily trout limit. No bag or size limits on brown trout and bass.





OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Reports
for Wednesday, January 7th

Agency Lake: The lake is ice free
Fourmile Lake: Access could be blocked by snow
Gerber Reservoir: The reservoir is at 60 percent full
Upper Klamath Lake: The lake should start to freeze soon
Klamath River - Upper - OR: Klamath River Report
Lake Of The Woods: The lake remains ice free but should be starting to freeze over soon
Link River : Redband Trout are in the river in very low numbers
Lost River: Water quality is fair
Miller Lake: Access is unknown. You might encounter too much snow
Sprague River- North Fork: Water tempeartures will be approaching freezing
Sprague River- South Fork : Fishing will be slow for brook trout up high
Sycan River: Fishing above the marsh would normally be the best
Williamson River: Upper Williamson River Report
Willow Valley Reservoir: This fishery seems to be slow due to turbid conditions
Agate Lake: Agate Lake is 32 percent full
Applegate Reservoir: The lake level is 1,915 ft and the surface temperature at Applegate is 45F
Applegate River: The Applegate River is open for hatchery trout and winter steelhead
Cooper Creek Reservoir: Recent rains will have mad the water more cloudy
Coos River: Coos River Basin Report
Coquille River: Coquille River Basin Report
Diamond Lake: Winter weather has finally arrived but the lake has not started to freeze over
Emigrant Reservoir: Emigrant Lake is 26 percent full
Expo Pond: Expo Pond Report
Fish Lake : Fish Lake is 64 percent full
Galesville Reservoir: The reservoir is about 40 feet lower than summer full pool
Hemlock Lake: Winter weather may make the lake inaccessible until spring
Howard Prairie Reservoir: Howard Prairie is 80 percent full
Hyatt Lake: Hyatt is 78 percent full
Lake Marie: Fishing has been slow, but no recent reports
Lake Selmac: Lake Selmac Report
Lemolo Lake: Lemolo is drawn down for the winter which can make accessing the reservoir difficult
Medco Pond: Medco Pond Report
Rogue River- Lower: Fishing conditions should be great for anglers plunking spin and glows
Rogue River - Middle: River conditions should be good through the weekend
Rogue River- Upper: The release from Lost Creek Reservoir is around 2,000cfs
Rogue River- Upper (Above Lost Creek): Fishing is available all year above Lost Cr Lake but snow will start to limit access
Tenmile Lakes: Largemouth bass have fully transitioned to their late winter patterns
Umpqua River: Winter steelhead are being caught throughout the mainstem
Umpqua River- North : Winter steelhead fishing is picking up and early returns seem to be above the 10-year average
Umpqua River- South : The South Umpqua River is now open for winter steelhead
Willow Lake: Willow Lake is about half full