Editor’s Note: Haystack Reservoir was drained down to the creek level for maintenance in late 2022 but was restocked. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife expected to restock the lake, but fish populations may still be rebounding. In theory, the young kokanee expected to have been stocked should be keeper size in 2024. I’ll update this article when I learn more.
Haystack Reservoir is an easily reached irrigation reservoir that provides a wide range of fair fishing options in Central Oregon.
The reservoir is more than 220 acres at full pool, but the water here keeps the surrounding farmland verdant in this dry, high desert countryside, so the manmade lake often is subject to major water level shifts.
It’s often low late in the growing season and even can fluctuate by the day.
Haystack has both cold water and warm water fishing options.
Trout
For cold-water fishing, the reservoir is stocked with hatchery rainbow trout, typically during the cool early season, when water levels are often near their seasonal peaks.
This reservoir doesn’t always appear on the stocking schedule for catchable trout because it is often stocked with sub-legal trout.
Sometimes the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife will plant the lake with modest numbers of excess brood rainbow trout no longer needed for hatchery operations. Those fish can be massive, quite often more than 10 pounds.
Trout fishing at Haystack Reservoir can be very good at times, with late winter and early spring often very good for anglers itching to hit the water between storms.
Watch ODFW’s stocking reports and its weekly fishing reports (both linked below) and plan your rainbow trout-fishing trips here around those plantings.
If you need tips on catching hatchery rainbows, see our Basic Trout Fishing Techniques article.
Haystack also has a modest fishery for brown trout, which can be caught on some of the same techniques that fool rainbows, but in much smaller numbers.
Browns also feed heavily on smaller fish, making crank baits or other lures that look like fish a good approach to catching them. (We have a separate article on Oregon’s Best Trophy Brown Trout Lakes.)
Kokanee
Haystack also supports a modest number of kokanee, which are landlocked sockeye salmon. These fish, which tend to run similar in size to the trout, are feisty fighters and excellent eating.
Kokanee prefer cooler water.
In the early season, they may be found close to the surface, but as the water level at Haystack drops, look for these fish to seek out the coolest water in the deeper parts of the lake.
A fish finder is a good bet for kokanee, which are a schooling fish — so if you find one, you have a better shot finding more. Kokanee are most often caught trolling smaller spinners, spoons and hootchies behind an attractor. Some anglers also use metal jigs.
Kokanee fishing is a pretty modest affair at Haystack, but there are times when the fishing here picks up and can be very productive.
A more consistent fishery in this area is at Lake Billy Chinook. Also find excellent kokanee waters throughout the state using the links at Best Kokanee Fishing in Oregon.
Read up on how to catch more kokanee.
Bass and Panfish
Haystack also supports a warmwater fishery, at times producing fair to good fishing for bass and crappie.
These days, most anglers report catching quite a few more smallmouth bass than largemouth bass, although both species are still present, according to ODFW.
Bass often like shallow waters in the spring, especially during their spawning period, and then move into deeper water for much of the rest of the year.
Both species are structure-oriented, so try to find them in coves, off points and near any structure they can use to ambush prey. Smallmouths are partial to rocky habitats.
Bass strike lures that imitate small fish, crayfish, worms, and other natural forage. Soft plastics, crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and other lures tend to work well.
Learn more about how to catch these fish with our simple how-to guide to bass fishing (tips and techniques).
Also see: Best Largemouth Bass Fishing in Central and Eastern Oregon and Best Smallmouth Bass Fishing in Central and Eastern Oregon.
Crappie fishing also can be good at times.
These are another schooling fish. They often will be in shallower water during the spring spawning period, especially around structure.
They will move into deeper water following the spawn and often stage near drop-offs or other structure.
Small jigs are the go-to lure for crappie because they imitate minnows, which are this species’ favorite meal.
You can pick up more pointers in Crappie Fishing: Simple Techniques and Tips.
Also see: Best Crappie Fishing in Central and Eastern Oregon.
You may also catch some bluegill here.
Like most sunfish, bluegill can be caught with a simple bobber and worm rig (or other natural baits such as mealworms, crickets and grasshoppers) as well as with small lures and flies.
Learn more about how to catch bluegill and sunfish.
Haystack also has a good population of bullhead catfish that might provide some regular action when other types of fishing here are slow.
In fact, we rate Haystack among the best bullhead catfish fisheries east of the Cascades in Oregon.
Natural baits including worms and prepared catfish baits still-fished on the bottom are among the most effective ways to catch catfish.
Location and Access
Haystack Reservoir is in fairly open high desert country, dotted with tumbleweeds and patches of juniper trees.
There is lots of camping here at three U.S. Forest Service campgrounds here, and both Haystack Reservoir and Day Use Area on the east side and Haystack West Shore Campground and Day Use Area have boat ramps to use when there is enough water and back access for daytime visitors. There’s a group camp on the south side.
Non-angling boaters often flock here as well, especially as the weather turns warmer, so you might consider fishing early to avoid the activity.
From the south, take U.S. 97 north past Redmond and Terrebonne to Southwest Jericho Lane, which will lead you east to Haystack Drive at the reservoir.
It’s roughly a 45-minute drive from Bend. From the north, take U.S. 97 south less than 10 miles south of Madras to Jericho Lane.
Haystack Reservoir Trout Stocking
Note: We are awaiting details about future stocking here.
Find more fishing spots in Jefferson County
Oregon Resources
ODFW Weekly Fishing Report
ODFW Trout Stocking Schedule
Oregon Fishing Regulations
National Weather Service