Hidden Idaho Treasure Series

Brownlee Reservoir bass fishing at Woodhead Park!

Where is it?

Hidden in the hills of western Idaho Brownlee Reservoir is a great destination for your family to fish, go swimming or pull out the wake board and catch some air. While Brownlee Reservoir is not was well known as some of Idaho’s greatest places to visit, it is definitely a must see.

Located approximately 28 miles north east of Cambridge Idaho on highway 71, Idaho Power’s Woodhead Park is a beautiful place to stay when you visit Brownlee reservoir.

Woodhead Park?

Woodhead Park located on the Idaho side of Brownlee Reservoir, just a few miles upstream of the dam. Built in 1959, Idaho Power remodeled and expanded the park in 1995 to improve the camping, parking and boating areas.

Ed Woodhead inspired the name of this award-winning park. Mr. Woodhead was chief construction engineer of the nearby Brownlee Power Plant.

Most of the park has mature shade trees, a boat launch, many boat docks, showers that are included in your camping fees, four restrooms, and a fish cleaning station. They also have a free Day use area and several places to tent camp. Even if you are not a fisherman Woodhead park is a great place to camp, if the beautiful vistas do not draw you to this location maybe the great deer hunting or chucker hunting will.

If you forget something at home, don’t worry the Gateway Store and Café located about three miles from the park just may have what you need. They have a great staff of very friendly people and will do whatever they can to help you out.

Brownlee?

Brownlee creek and Brownlee Dam is named after John Brownlee a prospector and an entrepreneur who operated a ferry near the site where the current Brownlee Dam and power plant is located. According to the Idaho Historical Society John Brownlee operated his ferry in that location from 1862 to 1864. There is speculation whether Tim Goodale knew about this route when he lead a train of 70 wagons over his cutoff via freeze out hill to the Powder River and crossed the river at the Brownlee Ferry in late 1862.

In 1864 or 1865 John Brownlee Abandoned his ferry or sunk it; there are actually different reports, then he moved to the Boise basin as he thought he could make a better living as a prospector.

Tim Goodale occupied John Brownlee’s log cabin for a while, even though the ferry business did not amount to anything. There was virtually no ferry business at this location until the Heath mines were discovered and the road from Pine Valley Oregon to the mines was improved in 1876 by William A. West.

William A. West operated the ferry under a new charter and eventually bought out all the interests of his partners. The Brownlee Ferry was operated under several owners until the 1920’s.

Historical References

Idaho State Historical Society – Reference Series – No 54 – Snake River Ferries
Cambridge to Brownlee Ferry
Idaho State Historical Society – Reference Series – No 436

Fishing Brownlee Reservoir!

Brownlee is considered one of the best fisheries in Idaho and Oregon, considering the reservoir is approximately 58 miles long and there are at least 7 game fish actively sought after. The list of game fish includes Small Mouth Bass, Large Mouth Bass, Catfish, Crappie, Bluegill, Trout, and perch.

The locals say that two guys in a six hour outing can catch between 200 to 300 crappie, and when you get in to the bass or perch the action can be dynamite. If you are teaching your children to fish, this is a great place to get kids hooked up and enthusiastic about fishing. The phenomenal Brownlee reservoir bass fishing has brought our family back to this great location 9 out of the last 10 years.

Planning a fishing trip can be a pain if you do not own a boat. However you can rent a boat or charter a fishing trip in either Richland Oregon or Cambridge Idaho.

The chucker hunting in the fall can be fantastic; however the hills are rugged so you need to be in pretty good shape to do any serous hunting around the reservoir.

Visit Woodhead Park and catch some action on Brownlee reservoir bass fishing in Idaho!

If you are planning a fishing trip, take a little time and research Woodhead Park on Brownlee Reservoir in Idaho. Take your family to Woodhead Park, one trip will get you HOOKED.