Fishing report
Published 7:33 am Thursday, December 6, 2018
- Surrounded by freshly snow covered Cascade Mountains, a fly fisherman casts his line while fishing Lava Lake. (Ryan Brennecke / The Bulletin)
ANTELOPE FLAT RESERVOIR: (rainbow trout) Water level remained relatively high this fall but clarity remained poor. Fall sampling indicated excellent numbers of 14- to 16-inch trout with some over 20-inches still available.
BIKINI POND: (rainbow trout) Bikini Pond has been stocked with both legal and extra trophy trout this fall. No recent reports.
CENTURY GRAVEL POND: (rainbow trout) Open to fishing all year. The pond is located ¼-mile west of the junction of USFS Rd 46 (Century Drive) and USFS Rd 4635.
CLEAR LAKE: (rainbow trout) No recent reports. Snow and ice likely reducing access.
CRANE PRAIRIE RESERVOIR: (rainbow trout, brook trout, largemouth bass, kokanee) Reservoir is closed to fishing until April 22, 2019.
CRESCENT LAKE: (rainbow trout, brown trout, lake trout and kokanee) Anglers report fair fishing for lake trout. Open to fishing all year. One lake trout per day, 24-inch minimum length.
CROOKED RIVER: (redband trout, mountain whitefish) Anglers are enjoying good success for redband trout and mountain whitefish. Irrigation season has ended and flows in the Crooked River below Bowman Dam have been reduced to 50 cfs. The whitefish should be spawning so anglers can have good success fishing egg patterns.
CULTUS LAKE, Big: (rainbow trout, lake trout) Open to fishing all year. No recent reports.
DESCHUTES RIVER, MOUTH TO THE PELTON REGULATING DAM: (redband trout, summer steelhead, whitefish) Steelhead are spread throughout the lower 100 miles of the Deschutes. Anglers report decent fishing in the Warm Springs, Trout Creek and Maupin areas. Anglers are reminded that the section of the Deschutes River from the I-84 Bridge upstream to Moody Rapids (0.25 miles) is closed to all fishing. No changes to the permanent rules have been made upstream of Moody Rapids. Anglers who catch a tagged hatchery steelhead with an orange anchor tag, are encouraged to report catch information to ODFW at 541-296-4628. Anglers catching a tagged wild fish should release it immediately without recording any information. Trapping has ended at Sherars Falls for the season.
Lake Billy Chinook to Benham Falls: (rainbow trout, brown trout) Open year-round for trout.
Benham Falls upstream to Little Lava Lake: Closed to fishing until May 22, 2019.
DEVILS LAKE: (rainbow trout) Snow gates west of Mt. Bachelor between Dutchman Flat and Deschutes Bridge are closed for the winter. Open to fishing all year.
EAST LAKE: (rainbow trout, brown trout, kokanee) Forest Service Road 21 is closed for the winter at its snow park gate. Open to fishing all year. Wild (unmarked) rainbow trout must be released.
ELK LAKE: (brook trout, kokanee, cutthroat trout) Snow gates west of Mt. Bachelor between Dutchman Flat and Deschutes Bridge are closed for the winter. Open to fishing all year. Kokanee limit is 25 per day in addition to daily trout limit. No size limits on kokanee.
FALL RIVER: (rainbow trout, brown trout) Anglers report good fishing. Open to fishing all year. Restricted to fly-fishing with barbless hooks only.
HAYSTACK RESERVOIR: (rainbow trout, kokanee, largemouth bass, black crappie, bluegill) No recent fishing reports. Walk-in access is available year-round but the gate to the west side boat ramp will be closed from Nov 30 until March 1. Parking is available near the fishing pier.
HOOD RIVER: (steelhead) A few summer and an early winter steelhead might be around in the lower Hood River.
HOSMER LAKE: (brook, rainbow and cutthroat trout) Snow gates west of Mt. Bachelor between Dutchman Flat and Deschutes Bridge are closed for the winter. Open to fishing all year. Restricted to fly-fishing only with barbless hooks. Catch-and-release for all species.
KINGSLEY RESERVOIR: Due to dam reconstruction, Kingsley Reservoir will be closed to the public in 2018 and 2019.
LAKE BILLY CHINOOK: (bull, brown and rainbow trout, kokanee, smallmouth bass) The Metolius Arm is closed until March 1. Harvest is limited to 1 bull trout 24 inches under the daily trout limit. Anglers can now keep 5 kokanee in addition to daily trout limit. No bag or size limits on brown trout and bass.
LAKE SIMTUSTUS: (bull trout, rainbow trout, smallmouth bass) No recent fishing reports. A tribal permit is required.
LAURANCE LAKE: Due to dam maintenance, Laurance Lake will be closed to the public in 2018.
LAVA LAKE, Big: (rainbow trout) Snow gates west of Mt. Bachelor between Dutchman Flat and Deschutes Bridge are closed for the winter. Open to fishing all year.
LAVA LAKE, Small: (rainbow trout, brook trout) Snow gates west of Mt. Bachelor between Dutchman Flat and Deschutes Bridge are closed for the winter. Open to fishing all year.
LOST LAKE: (rainbow trout) Access is likely restricted by snow.
METOLIUS POND: (trout) The property and pond will be closed until May 1, 2019. From Sisters, drive 9 miles NW on US-20/OR 126 and turn Right (look for the Camp Sherman/Metolius River Recreation Area sign). Veer left at fork and head to Camp Sherman (2.5 mi). Turn right onto Old Fish Hatchery Road (gravel road). Go to end of road to parking area.
METOLIUS RIVER: (rainbow trout, bull trout) Anglers report fair fishing for bull trout. Closed to fishing above Allingham Bridge. Catch-and-release for trout including bull trout. Fishing is restricted to fly-fishing only upstream of Bridge 99 (Lower Bridge). Artificial flies and lures permitted below Bridge 99 (Lower Bridge). No bait allowed.
NORTH TWIN LAKE: (rainbow trout) Open to fishing all year.
OCHOCO CREEK UPSTREAM TO OCHOCO DAM: (rainbow trout) Fishing is restricted to artificial flies and lures only; two trout per day with an 8-inch minimum length. Trout 20 inches and greater must be released unharmed.
OCHOCO RESERVOIR: (rainbow trout, black crappie, smallmouth bass) No recent fishing reports. The reservoir is extremely low and access is limited.
ODELL LAKE: (lake trout, kokanee, rainbow trout) Lake is closed to fishing until April 22, 2019. All tributaries to Odell Lake are closed to fishing.
PAULINA LAKE: (brown trout, rainbow trout, kokanee) Forest Service Road 21 is closed for the winter at its snow park gate. Open all year to fishing. Wild (unmarked) rainbow trout must be released.
PRINEVILLE RESERVOIR: (rainbow trout, largemouth and smallmouth bass, crappie) The reservoir is extremely low.
PRINEVILLE YOUTH FISHING POND: (rainbow trout and largemouth bass) Fishing for rainbow trout should be great thanks to a recent fall stocking of both legal and extra trophy trout.
SHEVLIN YOUTH FISHING POND: (rainbow trout) Open to fishing all year. Open to youth only (17 years and under) and disabled anglers. Limit is two fish per day.
SOUTH TWIN LAKE: (rainbow trout) Open to fishing all year.
SPARKS LAKE: (cutthroat trout) Open to fishing all year. Fly-fishing only, barbless hooks required.
SPRAGUE POND: (rainbow trout) Snow gates west of Mt. Bachelor between Dutchman Flat and Deschutes Bridge are closed for the winter. Open to fishing all year. Fly-fishing only, barbless hooks required.
SUTTLE LAKE: (brown trout, kokanee) Open to fishing all year. Bull trout have been reported in Suttle Lake. These must be released unharmed. Anglers are reminded to be familiar with fish identification. Twenty-five kokanee per day in addition to daily trout limit. No size limits on kokanee.
TAYLOR LAKE (Wasco County): (rainbow trout, largemouth bass) Taylor Lake was stocked this fall with both legal and EXTRA trophy trout. No recent fishing reports.
THREE CREEK LAKE: (rainbow trout, brook trout) Open to fishing all year.
WALTON LAKE: (rainbow trout) Access is limited to walk-in only but fishing should be excellent for 14- to 16-inch trout.
WICKIUP RESERVOIR: (kokanee, brown trout, rainbow trout, largemouth bass) Reservoir is closed to fishing until April 22, 2019.