Where to Go Spinney Reservoir

SUMMER HOURS 6 am to 6 pm Daily

Report Date: 8/7/2026

Spinney Boat Ramp Closure - The North Boat Ramp is closed to trailered launching due to low water levels. Spinney Mountain Reservoir remains open to hand-launched, motorized vessels.

CPW’s official Spinney Mountain Pike Management Tournament is underway and continues through September. It’s heavily affecting how the lake is being fished. Because sampling showed a dangerous spike in northern pike predating on young trout, CPW is offering cash prizes to remove them.

Conditions:

The water level at Spinney Mountain Reservoir continues to shrink. We are now sitting below 50% at around 47%. This can make fishing tough and forces us to do some walking. It also creates a unique opportunity to see some of what would otherwise be underwater gradient. Fish will be seeking structure and depth changes and might not be as actively cruising. Covering water will help bring success. Getting out on a watercraft can help increase success immensely! That said, fishing can still be done from shore. Explore the coves and look for weed beds. These areas are refuge for trout.

Weather:

Short Term -

Hot and sunny! No clouds forecasted for the Hartsel area and temps reaching 78 degrees. The good news is there is mild wind up there today! Things begin to shift tomorrow, though!

Long Term -

Rain! Rain is back in the forecast, and we are very thankful! Starting tomorrow, there are storms forecasted throughout the week. Temps continue to hold in the 70's for a couple of days and then begin to cool off into the mid and upper 60's. Right now, the heaviest storm days are looking to be Monday and then Thursday and Friday of next week.

Tactics:

With historically low water levels, this means the boat ramps will remain unusable for trailered boats, restricting water access to hand launching only. As mentioned above, covering water and seeking fish will help put fish in the net. The fish will be most active subsurface. Indicators will be most effective, but don't forget the dries!

Hatches:

Damsels are the main lake bug you will be seeing up top. This can also be a great subsurface play while they are active and building for their hatch. You will find them seeking underwater weed beds for food. Expect to see caddisflies around as well. As for lake-specific bugs, the Damsel flies tend to steal the show in July. Chironomids and Calibaetis are always great subsurface as well!

Tips:

From watercraft, focus on "flats" type areas in 4-8 feet of water. From shore, try to fish areas that do have some gradient to them. If you are on foot, look for weedy areas where the Damsels are helping to bring trout closer to shore.

Photo by Josh Heney

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