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April 19, 2016
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Kinney Lake, ODFW
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ENTERPRISE, Ore. – Kinney Lake is now open to non-motorized watercraft and year-round fishing under rules adopted by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife in collaboration with the surrounding landowners, Triple Creek Ranch and Wallowa Valley Improvement District #1.
“The use of float tubes, canoes, and small rowboats will allow anglers to spread out and find more fish,” said Kyle Bratcher, assistant district fish biologist in Enterprise. “Our goal is to put more fish in the hands of anglers and improve the experience.”
For this reason, Kinney Lake will now also be open to angling all year.
“Often during the early spring we have some nice weather and people want to get out and fish,” said Bratcher, noting that Kinney Lake can be a good option for families and youths when other spring opportunities may be limited.
Bratcher said ODFW’s new stocking plan for Kinney Lake will add fall releases to provide trout for an ice fishery during the winter. In addition, the later releases will grow through the winter and be available for early spring fishing.
ODFW has been working with local landowners for the last year to improve the quality of the fishing at Kinney Lake, which is located on privately owned land east of Joseph.
In the fall of 2015, ODFW treated the lake with rotenone to remove brown bullhead catfish, which were over-abundant and negatively affecting the stocked trout fishery, according to Bratcher.
”Based on the results of other chemical treatments in Oregon, removing bullhead will result in better growth of stocked rainbow trout and better winter survival which means larger fish for the angler,” he said.
The lake has not been stocked with fish since it was treated last fall. The first catchable rainbow trout will be released first week of May.
Access to Kinney Lake is provided by and agreement between private landowners and ODFW. To maintain this access, ODFW asks anglers to be respectful of private land and follow all rules and regulations posted at the lake. Anglers can maintain their access privileges by packing out trash and maintaining desirable conditions.
In addition to the changes at Kinney Lake, ODFW is seeking public input on management of the ponds in the Wallowa Valley. Surveys are available at the ponds and on the ODFW “fishing resources” website. Future plans may involve changes in the number of trout stocked, fish species available, or facility improvements.
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