LA GRANDE, Ore. – Effective Aug. 1 through Sep. 30, minimum and maximum size limits as well as the daily and possession bag limits for rainbow trout and bass are suspended for Thief Valley Reservoir (Southeast Zone) located in Union County. Harvest will be allowed by hand, dip net, or angling. The limit on the number of rods is also suspended.

Drought conditions in Eastern Oregon have prompted ODFW's fish biologists to make this temporary rule change and they hope that it will give anglers a better opportunity to harvest trout and warmwater fish before the reservoir is drained.

Thief Valley Reservoir, located near North Powder, is expected to be drawn completely down by the end of August. As the water level drops, any remaining stocked hatchery trout and warmwater game fish present in the reservoir will be trapped in isolated pools and die due to the warm and turbid water.

"Anglers can really help us put these fish to good use by getting out there and catching some of them," said Ethan Brandt, ODFW District Fish Biologist in La Grande. "It's unfortunate that the reservoir will go dry, but opening up the fishery is the best thing we can do in these situations."

Anglers are reminded that warm water conditions paired with low water can create blue-green algae blooms. Please visit the Oregon Health Authority website for updates on cyanobacteria blooms.

For the latest on Northeast and Southeast Oregon fishing in-season regulation changes, visit:

Northeast-zone

Southeast-zone

For information on the impacts of drought on fish and wildlife, visit ODFW's drought resource page on MyODFW.com.