Heller Reservoir

Heller Reservoir is a reservoir in Columbia County, Oregon.

Use the shape you can see at Heller Reservoir: check the best cover, the first drop, and one open-water line before moving.

Fish and Baits

Fish listed for Heller Reservoir include Bluegill, Brown Bullhead, and Largemouth Bass.

During a slow shoreline pass near the first break with light wind, use a small jig, worm, or tiny plastic around green weeds and protected pockets for bluegill.

During a check of nearby water near a clean gravel patch before changing depth, work a soft plastic, jig, or spinnerbait around weeds and protected cover for largemouth bass.

During a careful second pass near a clean gravel patch with a moving bait, use a worm on the bottom in a warm, quiet pocket during low light for brown bullhead.

How to Read the Water

During a slow shoreline pass near the edge of deeper water before changing areas, Make one shallow pass and one deeper pass on the same shoreline; that shows whether fish are tight to cover or using the first break.

Season by Season

During a careful second pass near the mouth of a pocket away from empty shoreline, spring fishing starts with warming banks, creek mouths, and shallow cover; summer usually pushes the better bite toward the outside weed edge or a nearby drop; fall can bring bait back to windblown points, while winter calls for smaller moves and a slower pace.

A Simple Tackle Plan

During a methodical search near the mouth of a pocket beside useful cover, 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 methodical search near a firm-bottom flat after warm rain, record the wind, water color, depth of the working lure, 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.