North Sheep Mountain Reservoir

North Sheep Mountain Reservoir is a reservoir in Harney County, Oregon.

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

Fish and Baits

Fish listed for North Sheep Mountain Reservoir include Brown Bullhead, Largemouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, and Tui Chub.

During the last hour of daylight near a soft-to-hard bottom change where food is present, work a soft plastic, jig, or spinnerbait around weeds and protected cover for largemouth bass.

During the first hour near the edge of deeper water beside useful cover, use a worm on the bottom in a warm, quiet pocket during low light for brown bullhead.

During the final pass near the mouth of a pocket after warm rain, cast a small spoon, inline spinner, light jig, or fly through cool water for rainbow trout.

How to Read the Water

During a cold winter outing near a creek-side turn under flat light, do not let the deepest number control the whole day; nearby cover, firm bottom, and food usually matter more than the deepest hole by itself.

Season by Season

During the final pass near a quiet corner with a moving bait, Early in the year, protected water and the first warm afternoon can be the best clues; as the water heats up, check deeper edges without assuming every fish is on the bottom; cooling fall water often makes points and firm banks useful again.

A Simple Tackle Plan

During an overcast morning near a small drop where two features meet, a light spinning rod, thin line, a few small spoons, inline spinners, and jigs cover the listed trout; carry one slightly heavier setup when other fish or windy water call for more control.

During an overcast morning near a shaded bank beside useful cover, record the wind, water color, depth of the first bite, 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.