Deer Creek Reservoir
Published: Updated:
Deer Creek Reservoir Fishing Reports
Stay up to date with the latest fishing reports from Deer Creek Reservoir. Reports are submitted by local anglers, fishing guides, and our team of fishing experts.
Filter by
All Species
All Seasons
Sort by
Reports from all past years within a 60-day time frame
- Species
Smallmouth BassTechniqueShallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6')SeasonSummerStructureBouldersEvenings are starting to get cooler. On windy days, the fish move into the shallows and are pretty aggressive. Shallow to medium diving crankbaits have been effective when there is a clear mud line. Fish can be as shallow as a foot or two, but most are 5-15 feet. When the power fishing slows or isn't effective, drop shotting has been effective for smallmouth. There are some really nice Largemouth mixed in with the smallmouth. An occasional walleye or rainbow trout are also caught on bass techniques. There are a ton of small fish so if you aren't getting anything, switch up techniques often and let the fish tell you what they want.
- SpeciesSmallmouth BassTechniqueHard JerkbaitsSeasonFallStructureBoulders
Slayin smallies with the flatworms. Dropshot ¼oz with an owner sniper finesse #1 hook. Nose hooked with a 4.5" nat shad flatworm was the trick In 5-15" of water. 2022 daiwa XT 7'3 M Fast. Shimano Nasci 3000 Suffix 832 15# hi Viz yellow FC Sniper 10# leader.
- SpeciesSmallmouth BassTechniqueDrop ShotSeasonSummerStructureBoulders
Some smaller smallmouth are in shallow water but deeper water with steeper banks have been more productive. Small jigs, ned rigs, and swimbaits (2.8 keitech) will get some smaller fish. Larger smallmouth are on flats adjacent to deeper water. Top water, jerkbaits on fast retrieves, and dropshot style baits have worked. If you don't find them keep moving. They tend to be grouped up and there is a lot of unproductive water. We have picked up some Largemouth and crappie. 6-7" worms and crawfish styled jigs and baits have worked for largemouth. Crappie were chasing down bass sized jerkbaits.
Russell CranneyBronze AmbassadorSpeciesSmallmouth BassTechniqueDrop ShotSeasonSummerStructureRock Pilenot huge but big enough to win big fish for that tournament.
- Species
Largemouth BassTechniqueShallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6')SeasonFallStructureRock PileThe lake is cooling rapidly. The fall transition is nearing its end. Largemouth can be found in coves and flats that have green sunfish and bluegill. If you find the bait, the Largemouth are likely close by. Smallmouth can be caught on more finesse techniques: dropshot, 1/16-1/4 oz jigs with 2.8-3.3 Keitech swimbaits, lightly weighted flukes, and jerkbaits. Walleye are also feeding up and we're catching quite a few on slow moving jerkbaits. Twitch, twitch, pause for 4-5 seconds. Make sure your jerkbait is tuned to suspend perfectly. Add a small lead strip if it's floating. Cover water if you don't find fish.
- SpeciesSmallmouth BassTechniqueDrop ShotSeasonWinterStructureLedges
We found a few nice smallmouth on deep drop offs using a Zman TRD micro finesse bait on a dropshot. It seems like a strange combo, but the floating bait keeps it up off the bottom and has a very subtle action. Whatever approach you take needs to be extremely slow. Slow drag or slow handle turn and then a pause and let the bait marinate for a bit before repeating. For us reaction bait guys, it's a brutal way to fish, but it generated the few bites we needed to catch some November smallies. Best luck came on green pumpkin. If you're a trout fisherman, they seem to be very active and are willing to chase down jerkbaits, swimbaits, and the occasional dropshot. Most are cookie cutter sized rainbows between 14-17 inches.
- Species
WalleyeTechniqueSoft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium)SeasonWinterStructureLedgesStill finding a few smallmouth and walleye in deep water. If you're looking for trout, they can be caught by fishing the upper water column with swimbaits and jerkbaits. Smallmouth and walleye are on the bottom in deep water next to sharp drop offs or deep rock structure. We're mostly catching smallmouth and walleye on small swimbaits like the 2.8 keitech fat swing impact. To get down, we're putting it on a 1/0 1/4 Oz jighead. We've found some erratic hops and shakes can trigger fish, but with the colder water, a soft lift and drop has been most productive. If you're casting from the bank, use a football jighead to crawl over rock. A bullet head is great for getting down faster, but will wedge into rock structure. From a boat, it would be a good time to use a hover stroll or damiki rig.
- Species
Yellow PerchTechniqueNed RigsSeasonSpring (Post-Spawn)StructureBrush PilesSmallmouth bass are sitting on the deeper bushes in the coves. Lot of active bass. Water temps where at 57 degrees. Good time to get out and get em. Keep your baits small, for more bites.
