Brownlee Reservoir Fishing
A 13,880-acre Oregon reservoir in Baker and Malheur counties, shared across a state line.
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Opening notes on Brownlee Reservoir
Mapped from BLM hydrography, Brownlee Reservoir spreads across about 13,880 acres of Baker and Malheur counties. About 58% of the BLM outline counts as Oregon water. The launch operators OSMB names are Baker County, Bureau of Land Management and Idaho Power. Fuel and food are closest in Baker City, near 42 miles away.
OSMB records 7 open launch sites that reach it. Read 3 water-specific rules before keeping fish here. It falls under the Snake River Zone in the booklet.
BLM Oregon hydrography lake outlines (NHD), summed by GNIS name (layer), read November 2, 2026.; launch managers from the Oregon State Marine Board launch layer; Census 2023 places.
Which fish ODFW records in Brownlee Reservoir
Each fish listed for Brownlee Reservoir comes from an ODFW habitat polygon, a booklet rule or a record.
How ODFW tags the fish of Brownlee Reservoir
| Fish | Use ODFW records | Origin | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black crappie | resident multiple uses | non native | UndocObsFish |
| Carp | resident multiple uses | non native | DocObsFish |
| Channel catfish | resident multiple uses | non native | UndocObsFish |
| Chiselmouth | unknown | native local | UndocObsFish |
| Flathead catfish | resident multiple uses | non native | DocObsFish |
| Largemouth bass | resident multiple uses | non native | DocObsFish |
| Northern pikeminnow | unknown | native local | UndocObsFish |
| Peamouth | unknown | native local | DocObsFish |
| Rainbow trout | resident multiple uses | native non local | UndocObsFish |
| Redband trout | rearing | native local | DocObsFish, DocObsHabitat |
| Smallmouth bass | resident multiple uses | non native | UndocObsFish |
| White crappie | resident multiple uses | non native | UndocObsFish |
| Yellow perch | resident multiple uses | non native | UndocObsFish |
ODFW Fish Habitat Distribution layers (ODFW ArcGIS), read November 2, 2026; a mapped species is habitat use ODFW records, not a catch report.
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- Farewell Bend State Park on Brownlee Reservoir2 lanes, trailered launch; parking, restrooms, use fee; Oregon Parks and Recreation Department
- Hewitt Park – Low Water Access on Brownlee Reservoir2 lanes, trailered launch; parking, restrooms, use fee, life jacket loaner station; Baker County
- Hewitt Park Day Use on Brownlee Reservoir2 lanes, trailered launch; parking, restrooms, use fee; Baker County
- Holcomb Park Ramp on Brownlee Reservoir2 lanes, trailered launch; parking, restrooms, use fee, life jacket loaner station; Baker County
- Moonshine Mine boat ramp on Brownlee Reservoir1 lane, trailered launch; parking, restrooms; Idaho Power
- Spring Recreation Site boat ramp on Brownlee Reservoir2 lanes, trailered launch; parking, restrooms, use fee; Bureau of Land Management
- Swedes Landing on Brownlee Reservoir1 lane, hand carry launch; parking, restrooms; Bureau of Land Management
Alternate launches near Brownlee Reservoir
- Carters Landing (Old) on Oxbow ReservoirOxbow Reservoir, 10 miles northeast
- Carters Landing on Oxbow ReservoirOxbow Reservoir, 10 miles northeast
- Oxbow Boat LaunchOxbow Reservoir, 14 miles northeast
Oregon State Marine Board Boating Access Sites layer (OSMB ArcGIS), read November 2, 2026; status as OSMB publishes it.
Oregon limits at Brownlee Reservoir
For Brownlee Reservoir the Snake River Zone rows apply first, then any exception.
| Species | Daily limit as printed | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Trout | 6 per day, 3 daily limits in possession. | Open all year. |
| Salmon | see the ODFW booklet | Closed in all waters unless noted by species under Exceptions. |
| Steelhead | 3 per day. | Closed in all waters unless noted by species under Exceptions. |
| Bass | Lakes/Reservoirs: 6 per day, 3 daily limits in possession unless noted under Exceptions. Streams: No limit. | Open all year. |
| Bluegill, Catfish, Crappie, Other Sunfish, Walleye, Yellow Perch, Suck. | No limit. | Open all year. |
| Sturgeon | Catch-and-release only. | Open all year. |
Where the booklet sets its own rules for Brownlee Reservoir
| Water as printed | Species | Rule | Page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brownlee Reservoir | bass | 12 inch minimum length on bass. | p. 70 |
| Brownlee Reservoir | An Oregon angling license is required on the Powder River Arm from the mouth up to the Huntington – Richland Rd Bridge. | p. 70 | |
| Brownlee Reservoir | Brownlee Reservoir ends at the downstream point of Porter Island. | p. 70 |
Water exceptions as printed in the 2026 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations (ODFW, eRegulations edition) (booklet PDF; printed page shown), read November 2, 2026. In-season changes from ODFW override them.
Licenses on shared water at Brownlee Reservoir
Check the shared-water notes in the booklet before crossing the line on Brownlee Reservoir.
An Oregon angling license ($50 resident, $138 nonresident for 2026) covers anglers 12 and older; salmon, steelhead, sturgeon and halibut go on a Combined Angling Tag ($69 resident).
Limits as printed in the 2026 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations (ODFW, eRegulations edition) (Snake River Zone page), read November 2, 2026.
Competitive days at Brownlee Reservoir
The Brownlee Reservoir tournament page gathers organizer schedules and results.
How Brownlee Reservoir stacks against its neighbours
Hells Canyon Reservoir leads this group on size, with roughly 2,301 acres.
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Kind | OSMB launches | Stocking weeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brownlee Reservoir | 13,880 | reservoir | 7 | 0 | |
| Oxbow Reservoir | 12 miles northeast | 1,106 | reservoir | 3 | 0 |
| Fish Lake (Baker County) | 20 miles north | 71 | lake | 0 | 0 |
| Hells Canyon Reservoir | 25 miles northeast | 2,301 | reservoir | 3 | 0 |
| Lookingglass Lake | 29 miles northwest | 28 | lake | 0 | 0 |
| Balm Creek Reservoir | 29 miles northwest | 73 | reservoir | 1 | 2 |
BLM outlines, the OSMB launch layer and the ODFW stocking schedule; read November 2, 2026.
Around Brownlee Reservoir: Oregon towns, tackle and more water
Nearby lakes worth a look after Brownlee Reservoir
- Oxbow Reservoir12 miles northeast
- Fish Lake (Baker County)20 miles north
- Hells Canyon Reservoir25 miles northeast
- Lookingglass Lake29 miles northwest
- Balm Creek Reservoir29 miles northwest
Stores that outfit trips to Brownlee Reservoir
- Huntington Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Huntington
- The Outdoorsmanbait and tackle shop, Ontario
- Bi-Mart (Ontario)sporting goods store, Ontario
- Bi-Mart (Baker City)sporting goods store, Baker City
County fishing pages tied to Brownlee Reservoir
- Baker Countyseat: Baker City
- Malheur Countyseat: Vale
A Piscifun kit worth stowing before you head to Brownlee Reservoir
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Know the Brownlee Reservoir catch by sight
Photo: ted_rocket, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: gailhampshire, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Oregon State University, CC BY-SA 2.0
Brownlee Reservoir, the usual questions settled
Which Oregon county holds Brownlee Reservoir?
Aim for Baker and Malheur counties, about 42 miles from Baker City.
How much surface does Brownlee Reservoir have?
Roughly 13,880 acres on the hydrography outline, about 58% of it in Oregon.
Can I tow a trailer boat to Brownlee Reservoir in Oregon?
OSMB maps 7 launch sites; Farewell Bend State Park on Brownlee Reservoir is one.
What can an Oregon angler hook at Brownlee Reservoir?
Look for black crappie, carp, channel catfish, chiselmouth, flathead catfish, largemouth bass and northern pikeminnow.
Which Oregon rules apply on Brownlee Reservoir?
Trout: 6 per day, 3 daily limits in possession. Its ODFW exception sits beside the zone rows.
What does an Oregon license for Brownlee Reservoir cost in 2026?
An Oregon angling license ($50 resident, $138 nonresident for 2026) covers anglers 12 and older; salmon, steelhead, sturgeon and halibut go on a Combined Angling Tag ($69 resident).
Can I fish Brownlee Reservoir from an Oregon shoreline?
Neither DLCD nor ODFW maps shore access on it.
Where can I buy an ODFW license near Brownlee Reservoir?
Try Huntington Bait & Tackle in the same county.
Hook up the trailer and aim for Brownlee Reservoir
Read the zone rows, then choose the launch closest to your water.