Salmon Falls Creek Reservoir

Size
3,400 acres (when full)
40 miles shoreline
200 feet deep

This guide will give you some useful information about the kinds of fish found in this reservoir and hints to increase your fishing success. Remember to pick up a regulations brochure for current angler information on limits or size restrictions for this area. Happy fishing!

Salmon Falls Creek Reservoir (SFCR) was constructed in 1911 by the Salmon River Canal Company as an irrigation storage reservoir. Pool size is reduced by summer draw-downs; however, a minimum pool is maintained providing year-round fishing, camping, and raptor watching opportunities.

Game fish in SFCR include rainbow trout, kokanee, smallmouth bass, black crappie, yellow perch as well as an occasional brown trout. Walleye were introduced into the reservoir in 1974 and provide a unique opportunity for anglers.

Trout
Rainbow trout are stocked in the reservoir twice per year. Fishing is especially good in the fall. Rainbow can be caught throughout the reservoir from shore, or by trolling from boats. Shore anglers have good success fishing with medium-weight gear (4-6 lb. line, and No. 8-10 hooks baited with nightcrawlers, eggs and corn. Adding a marshmallow will float the bait off the bottom and into the fishes' view. You may also want to try a small bobber to hold your bait at the right depth.

Trolling for trout with rapalas, rooster tail, mepps spinners, or flies is effective. Once you find the level of the fish, troll at a speed which will keep your lure at that depth.

The bays often provide good winter ice fishing for trout. The tip from a broken rod, or an inexpensive ice fishing rod, a simple reel, an auger, some lures such as Swedish pimples, or bright ice hooks baited with maggots, eggs, or corn and you are ready to go. Dress warm and ALWAYS check the ice carefully before venturing out.

Kokanee
Kokanee fishing is best in the summer months and into the fall, between the dam and Grey's Landing. Fifteen to twenty-inch kokanee are typical. In late summer, as kokanee come in to shore to spawn, bank anglers may have some succes. However, kokanee are open-water fish, so fishing from a boat and trolling slowly with pop gear, rigged with red or shiny lures, is most effective. In the spring, kokanee can be found at about 15-25 feet. In the summer, they move to the cooler 30-50 foot levels. Down-riggers will help carry the line down and keep it a the level where fish are located. You may wish to try leaded line, as well. Kokanee have very tender mouths; the use of the rubber shock absorber in the pop gear will help prevent the hook from tearing the fishes' mouth.

Walleye
Walleye provide the most unique fishery in SFCR. This long-lived fish can reach up to 20 lbs., however, 6 - 10 lb fish are typical for this reservoir. No special gear is necessary to be successful.

Walleye are a cool-water, light-sensitive fish. Knowing this will make them a little easier to find. Fishing is generally best from May into July, then again in October and November. Early in the spring, while the water is cold and murky, these fish can be found in the shallows. However, they will be found as deep as 25'- 40', once early summer water begins to clear and warm up. Knowing when and where they are feeding is important. A specially-adapted eye makes the Walleye effecient nocturnal feeders. As night falls they will move into shallower water to feed upon prey fish.

During the spring months, anglers fish the shallows of the south end by slowly trolling along the shorelines with crankbaits, bright colored lures (rooster tails, rapalas, or deep diving hot shots) baited with worms, or a slip bobber with worms. Jigging off of rocky points has also been successful. You may wish to try some of these methods near the shoreline, at night, to take advantage of their night feeding habits. However, because of the rocky outcroppings, extra care needs to be taken by boaters to be sure they are familiar with the area and proper lights are working.

Smallmouth Bass
Smallmouth bass can be found in the mid-section of the lake along rocky shorelines. Best fishing is from boats, casting your plugs, jigs or lures and retrieving them in an irregular fashion. Keep the lure moving.

Perch and Crappie
Perch and crappie fishing can be spotty. However, both are schooling fish, so once found they can provide quick action. Jigging with light-weight gear equipped with jigs or hooks baited with worms is effective. They are fun to catch and great to eat.