ODFW to remove fishing bag limits at Haystack Reservoir

Game fish limits and gear restrictions have been lifted for Haystack Reservoir starting Friday, according to a news release from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.

The limits have been removed because of a planned emptying of the reservoir due to required maintenance of the dam gates. Draining the reservoir will result in extremely low pool conditions and water quality that is unsuitable for gamefish.

“Hopefully, (the fish) end up in somebody’s freezer. It’s an opportunity that folks wouldn’t ordinarily have to catch as many fish as they’d like," said Josh Bailey, general manager for North Unit Irrigation District. “If they remove that bag limit, the hope is the public will remove those fish.”

The reservoir is expected to be empty by the middle of November, and Haystack is planned to be filled again with water prior to next year’s irrigation season.

Haystack Reservoir is located 8 miles south of Madras and 2 miles east of U.S. Highway 97. The reservoir contains a variety of species including rainbow trout, brown trout, kokanee, bluegill, black crappie and largemouth bass.