Central Zone

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LAKES, PONDS, RESERVOIRS

Trout fishing has been good in most of the ponds and reservoirs that were stocked this spring and early summer. However, warm summer days can make trout fishing more difficult.

As water temperatures warm, anglers should target larger, deeper and higher elevation water bodies such as Pine Hollow, Clear Lake, Badger Lake, Lost Lake, and Laurance Lake – which all should have good fishing for most of the summer.

Trout anglers also should adjust their tactics by fishing closer to the surface early in the morning and late in the evening, deeper in the water column when the sun is high in the middle of the day. In areas where shallow areas will have abundant vegetation making fishing difficult, anglers can still catch fish by fishing their lure or bait just above the vegetation.

5 places to fish this weekend:

• East and Paulina Lakes have been fishing well and with the warmer, calm weather forecasted for the holiday weekend, both should keep anglers satisfied.
• Pine Hollow Reservoir and Laurance Lake where levels and temperatures are in great shape for trout fishing.
• Antelope Flat Reservoir has plenty of fish and relatively little fishing pressure.  .  The water is most likely turbid due to the recent windy weather, but fish are still biting. Cooler temperatures at this higher elevation reservoir make fishing easier on both the fish and the angler.  
• Taylor Lake for largemouth bass because there are some whoppers in there.
• Ochoco Reservoir has an abundant smallmouth bass population. Crappie aren’t as abundant, but they tend to be larger compared to other regional waterbodies. The low water level will make launching larger boats difficult.

RIVERS AND STREAMS

Low water levels in rivers and streams make fish more susceptible to affect of high water temperatures. At these times, consider fishing in the cooler times of the day to minimize impacts to released fish, and avoid fishing when water temperatures exceed 70 degrees.

Three rivers to fish this week:

• The Metolius River should be fishing well this holiday weekend for trout. Anglers are reporting hatches coming out in the afternoon.
• Deschutes River from Macks Canyon to Pelton Dam where trout fishing has been great this year and conditions continue to be good for trout fishing.
• The Crooked River below Bowman Dam has acceptable water temperatures and good numbers of trout and whitefish.

RECENTLY STOCKED

We have taken down the online trout stocking schedule in order to prevent public crowding at waterbodies when we deliver hatchery fish. We will continue stocking trout but we will deliver on a slightly different schedule and at some different locations to avoid a rush of anglers showing up along with the hatchery truck.

Bikini Pond, Lost Lake, Taylor Lake, Pine Hollow and Badger Lake all have been stocked recently.

NOTE: Local ODFW offices do not have access to the trout stocking schedule either.

TROUT STOCKING MAPS: Find your place to fish

Check out the ODFW fishing and trout stocking maps to find nearby fishing locations, driving directions and descriptions of amenities.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Recreation Report gets a new look

We’re asking our local biologist to focus more on highlighting the best fishing opportunities on specific waterbodies, while shortening the long list of individual locations, many of which were rarely updated. 

Each zone report begins with an update of general conditions for lakes/ponds and rivers/streams, a list of best bets for the upcoming week, and announcements. We’ve kept the alphabetical list of waterbodies, but shortened it to include those waterbodies that are 1) popular with anglers looking for updates for a specific location, and 2) updated regularly (but not necessarily weekly) with stocking, fishing, access and water/ice conditions information.

This is a work in progress, and we expect it will take time for everyone (ODFW staff and customers) to find their way around the new format.

So, thank you for your patience. And let us know what you think – send an email to ODFW.Info@state.or.us and put “Web comment” in the subject line.

Tips to recreate responsibly

We continue to urge anglers and others recreating outside to stay close to home, keep your social distance, and travel safely. Here’s more information about how to recreate responsibly.

UPDATES BY WATERBODY

ANTELOPE FLAT RESERVOIR: rainbow trout

Loaded with hungry fish, but water clarity may make fishing difficult. Last updated 6/24/20.

BIKINI POND: rainbow trout

The pond has been stocked, and can be a great place to take the kids and catch a few trout this spring. Last updated 6/24/20.

CRANE PRAIRIE RESERVOIR: rainbow trout, brook trout, largemouth bass, kokanee

Anglers report good fishing for trout and kokanee. Wild rainbow trout must be released. Last updated 6/24/20.

CROOKED RIVER: redband trout, mountain whitefish

Water temperatures on the Crooked remain good and there are good populations of both trout and whitefish. Last updated 6/24/20.

CULTUS LAKE, Big: rainbow trout, lake trout

No recent update Open to fishing all year.

DAVIS LAKE: largemouth bass, rainbow trout

Water is low and it may be difficult to launch a bigger boat. Open to fishing all year. Fly-fishing only, barbless hooks required. Catch-and-release for trout. No limit on size or number of warmwater fish. Last updated 7/1/20.

DESCHUTES RIVER, mouth to the northern boundary of the warm springs reservation: steelhead, redband trout, whitefish

The Deschutes River has been in good fishing condition this week. Some thunderstorms in previous weeks have influenced these conditions but for now clarity is good. Trout fishing has been great so far this year. Anglers are reporting high success throughout the river. Most of the famous bug hatches are done for this year, but anglers can still focus on caddis hatches and large stonefly nymphing.

Steelhead fishing in the lower Deschutes River generally starts getting good in Mid-July and peaks in September. Most of the early angler success is in the lower 25 miles of the river from mid-July to mid-August. As the run continues to move upstream, anglers can find good success from the mouth upstream to Sherars Falls from mid-August to the end of October.

By November, fish are spread out throughout the basin from the mouth upstream to Pelton Dam. The peak of the steelhead run at Sherars Falls is the end of September. Peak steelhead catch by anglers from Sherars Falls downstream to the Columbia River is from August 15 to the end of September. Last updated 6/24/20.

Lake Billy Chinook to Benham Falls: rainbow trout, brown trout

Open year-round for trout. Artificial flies and lures only. No limit on brown trout. Last updated 6/24/20.

Benham Falls upstream to Little Lava Lake: rainbow trout

Artificial flies and lures only. Wild rainbow trout must be released. Last updated 6/24/20.

DEVILS LAKE: rainbow trout

No recent reports. Open to fishing all year.

EAST LAKE: rainbow trout, brown trout, kokanee

Anglers report good fishing for trout. Open all year to fishing. Last updated 7/1/20.

ELK LAKE: brook trout, kokanee, cutthroat trout

No recent reports. 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

All public access to Fall River Hatchery is closed until further notice. Anglers report good fishing for trout. Open to fishing all year. Restricted to fly-fishing with barbless hooks only. Last updated 7/1/20.

HAYSTACK RESERVOIR: rainbow trout, kokanee, largemouth bass, black crappie, bluegill

Fishing should be good for warmwater fish. Shallow areas will have a lot of vegetation. The rocky shoreline near the dam will be good for bass and panfish. Last updated 6/24/20.

HOOD RIVER: steelhead

No recent report.

HOSMER LAKE: brook, rainbow and cutthroat trout

Anglers report fair fishing Open to fishing all year. Restricted to fly-fishing only with barbless hooks. Catch-and-release for all species. Last updated 7/1/20.

LAKE BILLY CHINOOK: bull, brown and rainbow trout, kokanee, smallmouth bass

Kokanee fishing has been good with anglers reporting fish averaging 11-12 inches long.

Harvest is limited to 1 bull trout over 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. Last updated 6/24/20.

LAURANCE LAKE: trout

Reopened to fishing on May 22. The lake has been stocked. Last updated 6/24/20.

LAVA LAKE, Big: rainbow trout

Anglers report fair fishing for trout. Open to fishing all year. Last updated 7/1/20.

LAVA LAKE, Little: rainbow trout, brook trout

No recent report. Open to fishing all year.

METOLIUS POND: trout

No recent report. Youth angling (ages 17 and under) and disabled anglers only.

METOLIUS RIVER: rainbow trout, bull trout

All public access to Wizard Falls Hatchery is closed until further notice. Anglers report fair fishing in the afternoons. 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). Last updated 7/1/20.

NORTH TWIN LAKE: rainbow trout

No recent report. Open to fishing all year.

OCHOCO RESERVOIR: rainbow trout, black crappie, smallmouth bass

Fishing should be great for warmwater fish and slower for trout. The low water level make launching larger boats difficult. Last updated 6/24/20.

ODELL LAKE: lake trout, kokanee, rainbow trout

25 kokanee per day in addition to daily trout limit. Bull trout must be released unharmed. Last updated 6/24/20.

PAULINA LAKE: brown trout, rainbow trout, kokanee

Anglers report fair fishing for trout and kokanee. Open all year to fishing. Last updated 7/1/20.

PINE HOLLOW RESERVOIR: rainbow trout, largemouth bass, bluegill

The reservoir has been stocked and should offer reasonable trout fishing through the summer months.

Anglers are most successful at Pinehollow using a boat. If you fishing out of a boat, trolling small spinners or free drifting bait will work.

Bank anglers can also be successful near the boat ramp and on the dam. Last updated 6/24/20.

ROCK CREEK RESERVOIR: rainbow trout

No recent report. The reservoir has been stocked. As the summer progresses, the lake will be draw down for irrigation. This a good lake for small boats or float tubes.

SHEVLIN YOUTH FISHING POND: rainbow trout

No recent report. Open to youth only (17 years and under) and disabled anglers. Limit is two fish per day.

SOUTH TWIN LAKE: rainbow trout

No recent report. Open to fishing all year.

SPARKS LAKE: cutthroat trout, brook trout

No recent report. Open to fishing all year. Fly-fishing only, barbless hooks required.

TAYLOR LAKE (Wasco County): rainbow trout, largemouth bass

With the warmer weather, trout fishing will be slowing down. Instead, target some of the lunker largemouth bass in the lake. Although there is no designated boat launch, small boats can be used in Taylor. Last updated 6/24/20.

THREE CREEK LAKE: rainbow trout, brook trout

Anglers report good fishing for trout. Open to fishing all year. Last updated 7/1/20.

TODD LAKE: rainbow trout, brook trout

Open to fishing all year. Last update 6/24/20.

WALTON LAKE: rainbow trout

Fishing has been good. There are still some holdover fish up to 20 inches long, but most fish are averaging 12-14 inches. Last updated 6/24/20.

WICKIUP RESERVOIR: kokanee, brown trout, rainbow trout, largemouth bass

Anglers still are reporting fair fishing for kokanee. As water levels drop, fish will be found in deeper water. Five kokanee per day in addition to daily trout limit. Last updated 7/1/20.