Fishing Lake Umatilla

AKA: Umatilla Reservoir

Popular Fish Species
Lake Umatilla Fishing Video
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Popular Fish Species Lake Umatilla, WA

Lake Umatilla Popular Fish - Smallmouth Bass

Smallmouth Bass Fishing

Smallmouth bass are the most sought-after species at Lake Umatilla, with fish over 3 pounds very common. Largemouth bass also reside here in good numbers. Smallmouth bass fishing is particularly good when they move to shallow water. Use shallow spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, crankbaits, tube baits and jerkbaits around any sort of rip rap. Around grass, use worms, jigs, topwater and spinnerbaits. In winter, when the lake freezes over, consider ice fishing for smallies. Other times, focus your time on deeper structure with drop-shot rigs, small worms, jigs and spoons. Rock piles and points are prime areas for smallmouth as these areas are also home to crawfish.

Walleye Fishing

Lake Umatilla is home to a hearty population of walleye. Good fisheries management by Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife and plenty of forage in the lake have them growing fat and healthy. When the lake freezes over in winter, ice fishing for walleye can be very rewarding. Use GPS to locate fishing spots you normally fish during other times of the year. Walleye have excellent vision in low light scenarios which helps them find food in deep or murky water. Make an effort to be on the water anytime there are low light conditions. During May and June is the optimal time to catch them, while feeding in shallower water. Other times of the year they are more likely to roam around in deeper water. Concentrate around structure like points, flats and ledges off the river channels. One of the proven methods for catching walleye here is trolling with spinners tipped with live bait, or trolling with long-billed, deep diving crankbaits. However casting live bait, jigs, worms and spoons also works well at times.

Crappie Fishing

Crappie anglers can fish for both black crappie and white crappie at Lake Umatilla. These two species tend to school separately. However, once located around cover, you may catch both species, as they often use the same cover. For best results when fishing for crappie, light line and small hooks are key, especially when fishing live or prepared baits. Crappie jigs are also productive her in a wide variety of colors. This is a good place to catch quantities of nice, fat slabs. Crappie fishing can be found in varying size schools, hanging around brush, vegetation, wood or other cover. When the lake freezes over, ice fishing is often a great way to catch a bunch of hungry of crappie. Using a fish finder any time of year can help locate these crappie schools, which tend to stack vertically around cover. Live bait and small jigs are the most common method for crappie here. In spring and fall focus on the 8 to 12 foot range. As the crappie move deep in summer and winter, follow points out deep, as well as find ledges near channels, especially areas with brush or timber in deeper water. The best time to catch crappie tends to be at dawn and dusk.

Lake Umatilla Fishing Video

Fish species to fish for...

Guide to fishing for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, channel catfish, black crappie, white crappie, walleye, bluegill, pumpkinseed sunfish, yellow perch, chinook salmon, coho salmon, steelhead and sturgeon at Lake Umatilla in Washington.

Stretching for 110 miles along the WA/OR border, between John Day Dam and McNary Dam, Lake Umatilla is an excellent fishery with a wide variety of fish species. Residing in this 48,000-acre lake are bass, catfish, crappie, walleye, sunfish, perch, salmon, steelhead, sturgeon and others.

Over 220 miles of shoreline give anglers plenty of places to wet a line. The deeper river channel, ledges and humps are favorite hangouts of many species. The elevation is 268 ft above sea level. This section of the Columbia River is accessible from both Oregon and Washington with numerous boat launch ramps in each state.

Primary fish species residing in Lake Umatilla

Click images for fishing tips and details about each species.

Lake Umatilla Amenities

Marina: YES
Boat Rental: NO
Boat Launch Ramp: YES
Campgrounds: YES
RV Hookups: YES
Lodging: YES
Convenience Store: YES
Bait & Tackle: YES
Restaurant: YES

Today's Weather & Forecast

Public Boat Launch Ramps & Landings

Crow Butte Park Boat Launch Ramp
Located mid lake, on the north side of the lake, off Crow Butte State Park Road, this is a one-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking.

Plymouth Boat Launch Ramp
Located in the northeast corner of the lake, off Christy Road, this is a two-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking.

Railroad Island Park Boat Launch Ramp
Located on the west end of the lake, north side, off John Day Dam Road, this is a two-lane, concrete ramp with docks and paved parking.

Rock Creek Boat Ramp
Located in the northwest section of the lake, off Highway 14, this is a one-lane, concrete ramp with gravel parking.

Sundale Park Boat Launch Ramp
Located mid lake, on the north side of the lake, off Sundale Road, this is a two-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking.