Brandts Waterhole is a reservoir in Oregon, near Harney County.
Brandts Waterhole is a reservoir in Harney County, Oregon.
Use the shape you can see at Brandts Waterhole: check the best cover, the first drop, and one open-water line before moving.
During the first pass near a quiet corner in stained water, the fish mix is not confirmed, so check fresh local information before choosing a target or keeping a catch.
During a return to the best bank near a shallow shelf in stained water, begin with one slow bottom presentation and one moving bait, then let bites show whether fish are holding close to cover or roaming open water.
During a quick scouting pass near a small drop beside useful cover, use wind as a clue; a light push can carry food toward a bank, but hard wind may muddy it, so look for a clean edge near a point or protected pocket.
During a warm summer afternoon near a protected point near visible bait, shallow water is worth a careful look in spring and again during fall; bright summer days favor shade, weeds, or deeper breaks; under ice, a small depth change can be more useful than a long move.
During a careful second pass near a creek-side turn away from empty shoreline, a medium spinning rod, 8-pound line, a small box of jigs, a few crankbaits, and a simple bottom rig cover most situations; change depth or speed before changing every piece of tackle.
During a steady fall day near the outside weed line in stained water, record the wind, water color, depth along the active edge, and cover after a bite; those four notes are more useful on the next trip than a long list of spots that did not produce.
Explore nearby waters, including local Featured destinations. Check each page for access and fishing restrictions.
Distances are straight-line estimates between mapped water locations.