Barney Reservoir?

Anybody know anything about Barney Reservoir?  I ran across a thread on ifish where they didn't know anything either.  This is what I do know..
-It's a little farther (20 more minutes) than Henry Hagg Lake from Portland.
-While not as big as Henry Hagg (1110 acres), it's still pretty big (450 acres)
-No power boats allowed... perfect!
-It's catch and release for trout only, everything else is fair game, but I don't know what is stocked in there.

Here's a google map (go ahead pan and zoom).


View Larger Map
(note to self, I need to figure out a way to let everyone else (non admins) do this).

I don't know anything about it but it is close to me. I'd be happy to join a scout team...

Jay

you'll know you're there when u see green and purple dinosaur clones......

More internet research (mostly IFish archives) reveals that the fish in the lake are cutthroat trout.  That access can be in issue.. in previous years they've closed the road mid summer because people weren't following the rules (no camping, no motors, no bait) and/or fire concerns.  Also it requires a lot of backroads to get there, so google map time suggestions might be a bit off.

Seems like the resevoir is run by the Hillsboro water department.  There was a photo of a sign posted on Ifish from Barney Reservoir.


It might be worth calling the water department to see if it's open.

Brian

Nice find.  Once I get a paddle cart, I hope to explore places like this.

Well, 9 months later...a bit of eyeball intel. Sorry no pics. 

I spent a few hours out there today. The signs in previous posts are still up there. OR regs state CnR only for trout and that's all that's in the reservoir. I caught 6 beautiful cutthroats between 14 and 20 inches with the 20 incher nice and fat too. Everything from steelhead sized plugs to worm-tipped jigs to tiny roostertails worked at some time or another. I caught fish on all 3 rods I had with me. No bass anywhere as others on ifish have said. I ran into a couple of good old boys as they left who said they used to catch catfish up to about 2 years ago but not since.

Some good, some not so. It is actually an easy drive up. If you go, head to the north end of Yamhill (at the Shell station) and take Pike Rd going west. The parking is about 16 miles or so out into the hills. After a few miles, the road turns into Turner Creek Rd. Keep heading up into the drainage. About half way from Yamhill, the road turns to gravel/dirt near Menefee Park and can be a rather heavily used logging road at times. There are large signs warning of big trucks and potentially locked gates. I saw nothing at all today like this.

If you stay on the main dirt road, it will take you right to the parking area. It is very small and looks like nothing more than a small pullout on the water side of the road. The parking is contained by a row of concrete road barriers preventing you from getting too close to the water. You won't need a cart from this point. Once you set your yak on the other side of the barrier and rig up, it is a 10 yard easy drag on grass to the "launch", actually nothing more than a spot clear enough to get into the water. The reservoir is tagged as no motors but my new acquaintances today went to great lengths to hide their tiny electric motor while keeping their unused oars in plain sight.

Lots of solitude and CnR fishing potential for cuttys in very clear water. Also lots of clearcut to drive through on the way up.

Jay

Nice report Jay!

Next time take a camera. 

peace and quiet and 20 inch trout.... can't hardly beat that

Nice report Jay!

Next time take a camera. 

I did take a camera, just no pics 

Sounds like a pretty good time.  Thanks for the report man

Nice report Jay.  I'm glad someone finally got out there to check it out.  I'd like to check it out myself some day this summer, maybe with my fly rod.

How many fish do you think your buddies with the hidden electric motor take home with them?

Brian

I'm not really sure. The last thing they brought up to the truck was a large black trash bag. I figured, based on the way it looked, that they were using it as a dry bag. It easily could have held a few cuttys though. 

Cool.  I posted a barney thread on ifish awhile ago.  Basically found out what Brian said.  Good to see this place is doable. 

Well, 9 months later...a bit of eyeball intel. Sorry no pics. 

I spent a few hours out there today. The signs in previous posts are still up there. OR regs state CnR only for trout and that's all that's in the reservoir. I caught 6 beautiful cutthroats between 14 and 20 inches with the 20 incher nice and fat too. Everything from steelhead sized plugs to worm-tipped jigs to tiny roostertails worked at some time or another. Jay

Doesn't the sign also say "Artificial flies and lures ONLY"?   

Doesn't the sign also say "Artificial flies and lures ONLY"?  

Well, no technically the sign itself does not specify artificial only, rather it requires ODFW regulations to be followed.  If you look in the regs...yes it is Catch and Release only for Trout and artificial flies and lures only.

Brian