Blue River Reservoir doesn't show up on most anglers' radar. Sitting at about 1,400 feet in the Willamette National Forest some 45 miles east of Eugene on Highway 126, this 940-acre impoundment on the Blue River — a cold, spring-fed McKenzie tributary — gets overlooked in favor of bigger-name waters like Waldo Lake or Crane Prairie. That's a mistake. From late August through October, Blue River fishes exceptionally well for kokanee salmon and harbors a brown trout population that few anglers are targeting.

Getting There and Launch Options

The reservoir is easy to find. Take Highway 126 east from Eugene through McKenzie Bridge, then look for the Blue River Reservoir turnoff just past the town of Blue River. A paved boat ramp sits at the upper end near the dam. The lake is open year-round, and the ODFW plants rainbow trout in spring, but the real action — the stuff worth making a trip for — happens in late summer when kokanee school up in preparation for their spawning run.

Day use fees apply when the Forest Service fee booth is staffed. Dispersed camping exists along nearby forest roads. Bring your own water.

Kokanee: Timing and Tactics

Kokanee are landlocked sockeye salmon, and Blue River's fish typically run 10 to 14 inches with occasional fish pushing 16. They're not giants, but they're aggressive in late summer and absolutely delicious on the table — better than most trout, honestly.

The most productive method is slow trolling with small flasher-and-lure rigs. Set up a 6- to 8-inch kokanee dodger followed by 12 to 18 inches of 6-pound fluorocarbon tipped with a size 10 to 12 Wedding Ring spinner or a small Pautzke Fire Corn kernel tipped with a worm. Speed matters: 1.3 to 1.6 mph is your target window. Too fast and they won't commit. Too slow and the dodger loses its action.

Find the thermocline. In late August, Blue River stratifies with kokanee sitting at 35 to 55 feet, right at or just below the thermocline where the cold, oxygenated water layer holds. Run downriggers if you have them — set the ball at 40 feet and work from there. If you're fishing without downriggers, lead-core line or snap weights get you down. A simple formula: for every color of lead-core (about 30 feet), you'll drop roughly 5 feet at trolling speed.

Work the main basin of the reservoir, particularly the north shore where cooler inflows from the upper river push fish. Early morning — the first two hours after sunup — produces the most consistent action before the fish drop deeper as temperatures rise.

Brown Trout: The Sleeper Fishery

Blue River doesn't get much publicity for its brown trout, but it should. The reservoir's cold-water structure and good forage base — kokanee fry, sculpin, crawdads — produces browns that grow fat and mean. Fish pushing 18 to 22 inches aren't rare for anglers who target them specifically.

Browns are most active in low-light conditions: dawn, dusk, and on overcast days. Troll a large Rapala Original Floater (silver/black or gold) along the shallower upper arms of the reservoir at first light, running the lure 4 to 8 feet down. Browns will also hit shallow-running crankbaits retrieved near the rocky points on the east shore.

If you prefer casting, the Blue River inlet at the upper end of the reservoir is worth an hour in the late evening. Wade the shallows carefully and work a streamer — a Woolly Bugger in olive or brown, or a Sex Dungeon if you're fly fishing — across the current seam where the river meets the slack water. Browns will be stacked there hunting the inflowing food supply.

Gear Setup

  • Kokanee rod: Light to medium-light spinning or trolling rod, 7 to 8 feet, with a soft tip to absorb head shakes
  • Reel: 2000–3000 spinning or a small levelwind, loaded with 8-pound mono main line
  • Leader: 6-pound Seaguar fluorocarbon, 18 to 24 inches behind the dodger
  • Brown trout trolling: Medium spinning rod, 10-pound braid with a 10-pound fluoro leader, running a #9 or #11 Rapala
  • Flies: Size 6 to 10 Woolly Buggers, leech patterns, or articulated streamers in olive, brown, or white

Regulations and Notes

Blue River Reservoir falls under standard Oregon freshwater regulations. The daily bag limit for kokanee is 25, with no minimum size. Brown trout have a minimum size of 8 inches with a 5-fish bag, though check current ODFW regs before heading out as regulations can change. The reservoir occasionally goes through drawdown cycles for flood control — call the McKenzie Ranger District (541-822-3381) or check ODFW's website for current water levels before making the drive. Low water in late summer can concentrate fish and make fishing excellent or push them into spots that are difficult to reach.

Blue River is at its best the last two weeks of August through mid-October. Pack a cooler and plan on keeping fish — kokanee are best fresh or smoked, and they're worth the effort.