Catch-and-release only for native redband trout in Klamath Basin June 15-Oct. 31

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – ODFW is taking steps to protect native redband trout by requiring catch-and-release fishing for them and flies and artificial lures only (no bait) for all species from June 15 to Oct. 31 on Upper Klamath Lake and spring-fed creeks that feed into it.

The waterbodies impacted are Klamath Lake (including Pelican Bay), Crystal Creek, Fourmile Creek, Fourmile Canal, Harriman Creek, Odessa Creek, Recreation Creek, Short Creek, and Thomason Creek. This rule change will temporarily align regulations with those on the Wood and Williamson Rivers, their tributaries, and Agency Lake, where angling is limited to catch‑and‑release using flies and artificial lures. (Reminder that redband trout, a native inland subspecies of rainbow trout, are managed under "rainbow trout" bag limits and seasons in the regulations.)

After on-going recent declines, staff observed record‑low counts of native redband trout at nearly all spawning locations during the 2025–2026 winter spawning season. Drought, poor lake conditions, and a number of other factors have impacted these populations and led to this decline.

The Klamath Basin has experienced numerous prolonged droughts in recent years. Flows in the Wood and Williamson Rivers have trended downward, impacting juvenile redband trout survival and the available adult spawning habitat. The significant decline in spawning suckers observed over the last two years has also depleted the food base for redband trout within these waterways.

The Klamath Basin is potentially seeing a delayed response to prior drought conditions, with trout hatched from 2020 through 2022, that are now spawning as adults, most impacted. Biologists are hopeful that there is a larger class of fish spawned after 2022 that will soon reach adulthood and bolster population numbers.

"These are highly unique populations of rainbow trout that are adapted to live in the Klamath Basin, but the constantly changing environmental conditions they are experiencing has resulted in a boom and bust cycle. Unfortunately, we are in the bust phase." said Benji Ramirez, Klamath District Fish Biologist. "This temporary rule is intended to help these fish get through the summer and survive to spawn this winter.

"Our goal is to ensure the long-term sustainability of the population and return to a regular fishing season in the future," Ramirez continued. "But for now, it's important that we take steps to protect these fish."

Each year in late May or early June, deteriorating water quality in Upper Klamath Lake forces fish to move into cold‑water refuge areas in the lake and nearby groundwater‑fed tributaries. These fish spawn in the groundwater‑fed tributaries and move into the lake to feed when water quality allows.

These seasonal shifts to cold-water refuges concentrate large numbers of fish in small areas with better water quality, making them especially vulnerable to angling pressure. Closing harvest during this time will give more adult fish in these refuges a higher chance of surviving to spawn.

These angling rule changes are just one way to help native fish recover. State, federal, and non‑profit partners throughout the Klamath Basin have also been working on major habitat restoration projects to improve water quality and create better conditions for fish and other wildlife.

ODFW encourages anglers to take advantage of unlimited harvest opportunities for https://myodfw.com/fishing/species/yellow-perch yellow perch, especially in the Williamson River and Crystal Creek. The Klamath Basin also has excellent brook trout fisheries with no harvest limits.

Catch-and-release tips

To reduce stress and improve survival of released fish, anglers are encouraged to follow these best practices for catch‑and‑release fishing:

• Use rubberized nets to prevent snagging and reduce injury. 
• Keep fish in the water while removing hooks. 
• Avoid beaching fish and minimize the time they spend out of the water. 
• Use barbless hooks to make release quicker and less harmful. 
• Land fish promptly to prevent over‑exhaustion. 
• Wet hands before handling fish to protect their slime layer. 
• Use pliers or a hook‑removal tool to speed up release. 
• Gently support fish in the water until they swim away on their own. 
• Avoid fishing during periods of high-water temperatures or poor water quality when fish are already stressed.

Anglers are reminded to always check for in-season regulation changes in their zone before fishing.