ROSEBURG, Ore. – Diamond Lake and Lemolo Reservoir will open for trout season Saturday, April 26, however both lakes are under heavy snow and ice, preventing ODFW from stocking fish this week.

Assistant District Fish Biologist Holly Truemper says anglers with a sense of adventure can access open water at inlets and outlets at both lakes to catch holdover trout. About 50,000 trout stocked as fingerlings last year in Diamond Lake are now in the 11-inch range and available to anglers.

“Anglers can snowmobile, snowshoe or cross country ski into these outlets at both Diamond Lake and Lemolo,” Truemper said. “Diamond Lake Resort has made a good effort to clear ice near the lodge so fishermen can get lines in. At Lemolo, the road to Poole Creek campground and nine campsite parking spurs are open. The boat ramps at both lakes are under snow and ice.”

Truemper also said the ice at both lakes is in poor condition and advises anglers to be extremely cautious.

Toketee, which has both boat and bank access, is a good spot to fish in the early morning hours for brown trout, and ODFW will stock Clearwater Forebay #2 with 1,000 rainbow trout on Friday, weather permitting.

At Diamond Lake, ODFW will stock 6,000 legal and trophy-sized trout after ice off. The Department expects another phenomenal year of fishing and will stock a total of 70,000 to 80,000 catchable trout. Anglers are reminded the harvest limit is five trout per day with one fish over 20 inches, and boaters should be aware that the traditional 10 mph speed limit has been reinstated for the entire season.

When Lemolo Reservoir is accessible, ODFW will stock 1,500 rainbow trout, followed by another 1,000 in May.

Many other area lakes and reservoirs have been stocked and anglers can check the trout stocking schedule on the ODFW website at www.dfw.state.or.us

Photos by ODFW, taken April 18, show Diamond Lake and North Boat Ramp under snow and ice.

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