Central Oregon fishing report

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, July 8, 2015

ANTELOPE FLAT RESERVOIR: The water remains dirty and low, but there is still enough water to launch a small boat. Sampling indicated many trout available in the reservoir, but fishing effort remains low.

BEND PINE NURSERY: Limit is two fish per day, 8-inch minimum length.

BIKINI POND: Trout fishing has slowed down do to warm summer water temperatures, the pond will be stocked again in November.

CRANE PRAIRIE RESERVOIR: Opportunities for 16- 24-inch rainbow trout continue to be good. Anglers using flies in the old river channels are having success. Trout daily catch limit may include one rainbow trout over 16 inches and one non-fin-clipped (unmarked) rainbow trout. NOTE: Anglers who harvest one rainbow trout over 16 inches that is non-fin-clipped have met both of these special regulations.

CROOKED RIVER BELOW BOWMAN DAM: Fishing for trout and whitefish has been good. Fish that are being released should not be removed from the water.

DAVIS LAKE: Restricted to fly-fishing only with barbless hooks.

DESCHUTES RIVER, Mouth to the Pelton Regulating Dam: Trout anglers can find summer in full swing on the Deschutes. Warm air and lots of bug hatches in the mornings and evenings. Dry fly-fishing is good right now. The best trout fishing is from Warm Springs to Maupin. Steelhead have not started entering the lower Deschutes yet. Anglers should watch The Dalles Dam counts and expect fishing to pick up in mid-July. 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.

LAKE BILLY CHINOOK TO BENHAM FALLS: Anglers report good fishing. Fishing restricted to artificial flies and lures. Best opportunities are below Steelhead Falls where springs provide cooler water.

BENHAM FALLS UPSTREAM TO WICKIUP RESERVOIR: Anglers report good fishing upstream of Bend. Five trout per day, which may include two non-fin-clipped rainbow trout. Scheduled to be stocked with rainbow trout this week.

WICKIUP RESERVOIR TO CRANE PRARIE: Two trout per day, 8-inch minimum length. Fishing is slow due to warm water.

CRANE PRAIRIE RESERVOIR UPSTREAM TO LITTLE LAVA LAKE: Anglers report fair fishing for brook trout. Catch-and-release only for rainbow trout. Five brook trout per day.

EAST LAKE: Anglers report good fishing for rainbow trout and kokanee. Unmarked rainbow trout must be released.

FALL RIVER: River will be stocked this week with rainbow trout. Restricted to fly-fishing only with barbless hooks.

HOOD RIVER: Steelhead fishing on the Hood will be slow through the summer and early fall. Anglers can expect a few fish in November and December.

LAKE BILLY CHINOOK: Fishing for 11- to 13-inch kokanee is excellent. Fish are beginning to concentrate in the upper end of the Metolius Arm. Anglers are reminded there are small numbers of spring Chinook and summer steelhead in Lake Billy Chinook as part of the reintroduction effort. Please release these fish unharmed.

LAURANCE LAKE: Laurance Lake reservoir has been recently stocked and should provide excellent opportunities.

LAVA LAKE (BIG): Fishing for 12- to 18-inch rainbow trout continues to be excellent. Anglers fishing the early morning hours when the water is cooler are having most success.

LOST LAKE: Lost Lake has recently been stocked and should be great fishing at one of Oregon’s most scenic lakes.

METOLIUS RIVER: Special fishing regulations apply to the Metolius River. All tributaries except Abbot, Lake, and Spring Creeks are closed to fishing. Opportunities for challenging catch-and-release fly-fishing for native redband trout and bull trout in a pristine mountain stream are excellent.

NORTH TWIN LAKE: No recent reports. There is good bank access around entire lake.

OCHOCO CREEK UPSTREAM TO OCHOCO DAM: Angling is restricted to artificial flies and lures only; two trout per day with an 8-inch minimum length.

OCHOCO RESERVOIR: The water level is low but the boat ramp is still usable.

ODELL CREEK: Catch-and-release for trout.

ODELL LAKE: Kokanee fishing has been good and lake trout opportunities are fair. Most fish are in the deeper cooler water. Closed to fishing for bull trout and any incidental caught bull trout must be released unharmed. All tributaries to Odell Lake are closed to fishing.

PAULINA LAKE: No recent reports. Unmarked rainbow trout must be released.

PINE HOLLOW RESERVOIR: The reservoir has been stocked and good fishing has been reported. Many of the trout have copepods, which are tiny parasites on their bodies and gills, according to reports. These are not harmful to humans and the lesions can be removed, but the meat should be thoroughly cooked.

PRINEVILLE RESERVOIR: The water level is low but the Jasper Point, State Park and Powderhouse Cove boat ramps are still usable. Crappie and smallmouth bass opportunities are excellent.

PRINEVILLE YOUTH FISHING POND: No recent reports.

ROCK CREEK RESERVOIR: Anglers should be prepared that low-water conditions due to irrigation withdrawals will limit success in Rock Creek reservoir.

SHEVLIN YOUTH FISHING POND: Open to fishing all year. Limit is two trout per day, 8-inch minimum length. Fishing restricted to juvenile anglers 17-years-old and younger.

SOUTH TWIN LAKE: No recent reports. There is good bank access around entire lake.

SUTTLE LAKE: No recent reports.

TAYLOR LAKE (Wasco County): Trout fishing will slow down during the summer months, but anglers can find lots of bluegill and largemouth bass.

THREE CREEK LAKE: Anglers report fair fishing for brook trout.

WALTON LAKE: Anglers will have the most success fishing early in the morning when the temperatures are cooler. As a reminder, the bag limit includes only one trout over 20 inches per day.

WICKIUP RESERVOIR: No recent reports, but opportunities for 16- to 20-inch kokanee and large brown trout are good. Special regulations apply for this body of water.