Chickahominy isn't much for scenery - surrounded by miles of rolling sage and few trees. The reason anglers come to this desert reservoir is under the water: fast-growing rainbow trout, lots of them.

A dam on Chickahominy Creek in Harney County, Oregon formed the reservoir. After leaving the reservoir, the creek then flows into Silver Creek, north of Riley, Oregon. Chickahominy Reservoir was named for the creek that bears the same name, and the origin is uncertain. Speculation exists that members of the U.S. Cavalry, who were fighting in the Bannock War near Silver Creek named the creek in 1878. In fact, Reuben Bernard, a cavalry commander, had fought in several campaigns along the Chickahominy River in Virginia during the Civil War in 1862.

Although not a huge reservoir, Chickahominy is big enough and deep enough to house some gigantic trout. Annually, it is stocked heavily with rainbow trout fingerlings, and the trout don't stay small for long. The reservoir provides an ideal habitat for growing huge trout, which feast year-round on minnows, leeches, and aquatic insects. All methods will take fish, especially early in the season at ice-out and then again in the fall. In the summer, when the heat bakes the high desert and slows the fishing, the crowd at the reservoir thins out noticeably. In fact, after July 4th, many of the campers parked in the campground belong to non-angling travelers from nearby hwy 20.

The reservoir is open year round but during the hot summer months the fish catch is down in numbers. During the winter months ice fishing at Chickahominy is a popular activity. The reservoir is usually frozen by mid-December. Please use extreme caution before venturing out onto the frozen reservoir. Beware of truck sucking mud holes on the dirt access roads around the reservoir in wet conditions. Boat anglers avoid the mess by launching at the paved ramp near the dam.

Basic Directions