Central Zone

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Best bets for weekend fishing

• The Deschutes River below Moody Rapid opened to fishing Sept. 16.
• Anglers report good kokanee and bull trout fishing at Lake Billy Chinook.
• Trout fishing continues to be good at both Three Creek and Little Three Creek lakes.
• Fall River was recently stocked with rainbow trout.

Recently stocked

Scheduled to be stocked this week:

Pine Nursery Pond, Fall River, Walton Lake, Shevlin Pond.

Recently stocked:

Big Cultus Lake, Shevlin Pond, Walton Lake, North and South Twin lakes.

Check out the 2022 trout stocking schedule.

Trout stocking maps

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

Announcements

Crooked River closure

Due to ongoing drought and low water, ODFW is closing fishing in the Crooked River and Ochoco Creek from Saturday, Sept. 24 until at least Oct. 31.

Cedar Creek Fire updates

• The Deschutes National Forest is implementing temporary closure areas due to the growing Cedar Creek Fire. The closure includes Davis Lake, the western side of Wickiup Reservoir, North and South Twin lakes, Crane Prairie Reservoir, Little Cultus Lake, Cultus lake, and Little Lava Lake. Many trails into the high Cascade lakes are also closed including: Charlton (and associated trails), Clover Meadow, Corral Swamp, Elk Creek, Found Lake, Harralson, Irish, Taylor, Johnny Lake, Lemish Lake, Lily Lake, Maiden Peak (and associated trails), Many Lakes, Metolius-Windigo, Mink Lake, Moore Creek, Senoj Lake, Six Lakes, Snowshoe Lake, Teddy Lake, The Twins, Twins Peak, Upper Moore Creek, and Winopee Lake.
• The closure was revised to allow access to Lava Lake on Sept 24. 
• Conditions and closures can change quickly. For current information on fire activity and closures visit: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/closures/8307/ or https://www.facebook.com/CedarCreekFire2022/.

Temporary rules in effect for Haystack Reservoir

A temporary rule to lift limits in Haystack Reservoir will be in effect Sept. 16 through Nov. 30 as the pool will be drawn down to facilitate emergency gate maintenance.

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Marine Board’s Opportunities and Access Report incorporates information from federal and state agencies, local facility operators and fellow boaters to provide up-to-date information so boaters can decide where to recreate and what to expect this season. Subscribe to receive email updates.

Updates by waterbody

ANTELOPE FLAT RESERVOIR: rainbow trout

Spring monitoring showed good numbers of trout in addition to the stocking in April. Expect low and dirty water conditions. Last updated 6/15/22.

BIKINI POND: trout

Bikini Pond was scheduled to be stocked the last week of September, but the fall stocking has been postponed until early October. Last updated 9/22/22.

CENTURY GRAVEL POND: rainbow trout

No recent updates. The pond is located ¼ mile west of the junction of USFS Rd 46 (Century Drive) and USFS Rd 4635. Last updated 10/6/21.

CLEAR LAKE: trout

Clear lake was last stocked on June 15, 2022 with 4,263 legal size trout 200 trophy trout, and 25 brood trout. This was the third stocking at Clear Lake this year.  Last updated 7/27/22.

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

Anglers report fair fishing Crane Prairie. All boat ramps are now accessible, and the reservoir water level is high at 70 percent full. Last updated 9/21/22.

CRESCENT LAKE: rainbow trout, brown trout, lake trout and kokanee

The lake level remains extremely low and developed boat ramps are unavailable for launching boats. It is currently 7 percent full. Open to fishing all year. One lake trout per day, 24-inch minimum length. Last updated 9/28/22.

CROOKED RIVER: trout, whitefish

The Crooked River is currently flowing at 10 cfs downstream of Bowman Dam. Due to ongoing drought and low water, ODFW is closing fishing in the Crooked River and Ochoco Creek from Saturday, Sept. 24 until at least Oct. 31.

Crooked River anglers may encounter bull trout now that there is volitional passage at Opal Springs. Anglers who catch a bull trout should release it unharmed and report their catch to the US Fish and Wildlife Service at crookedbulltrout@fws.gov. Last updated 9/28/22.

DAVIS LAKE: largemouth bass, rainbow trout

The water level remains extremely low, and it may be difficult to launch a bigger boat. Recent fishing reports of good bass fishing. 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.

This is the time of year to watch for blue-green algae blooms on Davis. Here’s what to look for. Last updated 8/3/22.

DESCHUTES RIVER, mouth to Pelton Dam: steelhead, fall Chinook, coho, redband trout, whitefish         

Steelhead and salmon fishing is open from the I-84 bridge upstream to the Pelton Regulating Dam.

Salmon fishing near Sherars Falls has been slow for anglers; chinook and coho fishing will likely pick up over the next few weeks, with the run generally peaking in late September.

Steelhead fishing on the lower river has been generally slow over the past week, but quite a few reports of nice chinook caught in the lower river. Trout fishing reports have been good from Trout Creek upstream to Mecca flat, with most anglers nymph fishing. Last updated 9/22/22.

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

Recent reports of good fishing for rainbow and brown trout. Open year-round for trout. Artificial flies and lures only. No limit on brown trout. Last updated 6/1/22.

DESCHUTES RIVER, Benham Falls to Little Lava Lake: rainbow trout, brown trout

Trout fishing on the upper Deschutes River has been fair. Anglers report good rainbow and brown trout fishing below Wickiup Dam. Last updated 8/31/22.

EAST LAKE: rainbow trout, brown trout, kokanee

Anglers report good fishing for brown trout, rainbow trout and kokanee; however, kokanee are smaller this year. Due to low water, the East Lake Campground boat ramp is unavailable for launching larger boats; anglers should look to launch boats at Hot Springs Cinder Hill campground boat ramps. Boat users should be aware of buoys marking ODFW tui chub removal nets along the east shoreline. Last updated 7/13/22.

FALL RIVER: rainbow trout, brown trout

The Fall River has been fishing well and was recently stocked with another batch of rainbow trout. Open to fishing all year. Restricted to fly-fishing with barbless hooks only. Last updated 8/17/22.

FROG LAKE: trout

Frog Lake was last stocked on June 28 with 3,200 legals, 455 trophy, and 15 brood trout. This was the third stocking at Frog Lake in June. Fishing has been slow. Last updated 9/7/22.

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

Effective Sept. 16 through Nov. 30, in Haystack Reservoir, there are no size limits, bag limits, or gear restrictions for all gamefish. No recent fishing reports. Last updated 9/14/22.

HOOD RIVER:  steelhead, rainbow and cutthroat trout

The Hood River continues to be turbid due to glacial melt. Glacial melt will persist through the summer on the Hood, limiting fishing success. Last updated 8/24/22.

HOSMER LAKE: brook, rainbow and cutthroat trout

Anglers report that fishing at Hosmer has improved after a relatively slow start. Open to fishing all year. Restricted to fly-fishing only with barbless hooks. Catch-and-release for all species. Last updated 7/20/22.

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

Anglers report good kokanee fishing at Lake Billy Chinook. Bass are biting well.

For the remainder of the reservoir, 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 9/21/22.

LAURANCE LAKE: rainbow trout

Laurance Lake road is reopened to vehicle traffic. Anglers have had success bank fishing throughout the reservoir. Boat anglers reported good fishing this past week. Bull trout are in Laurance Lake Reservoir and must be released unharmed if caught.  Last updated 8/31/22.

LAVA LAKE, Big: rainbow trout

Lava Lake was last stocked with legal-sized rainbow trout on June 10. Recent reports of good fishing. Open to fishing all year. Last updated 7/20/22.

METOLIUS RIVER: rainbow trout, bull trout

The Metolius River continues to fish well. Streamers are a good bet for bull trout. Catch-and-release for trout including bull trout. Anglers should be aware that Chinook salmon will be holding in deep, slow-moving water during August and spawning in September. Avoid harassing or targeting these fish. 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 8/31/22.

NORTH TWIN LAKE: rainbow trout

Open to fishing all year, expect low water conditions at North and South Twin lakes. Anglers report excellent fishing, and North and South Twin received a fresh stocking of trout in mid-August and a stocking of trophy trout in late August. Last updated 8/31/22.

OCHOCO RESERVOIR: rainbow trout, black crappie, smallmouth bass

The reservoir is very low at 13 percent. No recent fishing reports. Last updated 8/31/22.

ODELL LAKE: lake trout, kokanee, rainbow trout

Anglers report good kokanee fishing jigging and trolling with fish averaging 13 inches. This is the time of year to watch for blue-green algae blooms on Odell. Here’s what to look for.  Last updated 7/6/22.

Here are some tips on how and where to fish for kokanee:  Kokanee fishing in Oregon: 9 tips for catching kokanee.

PAULINA LAKE: brown trout, rainbow trout, kokanee

Anglers are reporting good kokanee fishing in Paulina Lake with fish averaging 12 inches. Last updated 8/17/22.

PINE HOLLOW RESERVOIR: rainbow trout, largemouth bass, bluegill

Pine Hollow was scheduled to be stocked the last week of September, but the fall stocking has been postponed until early October.

Last updated 9/22/22.

PINE NURSERY POND: trout, largemouth bass

Angler report good trout and bass fishing. Limit is 2 fish per day. Last updated 6/1/22.

PRINEVILLE RESERVOIR: rainbow trout, largemouth and smallmouth bass, crappie

Trout fishing continues to be good near the dam and anglers report good fishing for large crappie. The reservoir is very low at 10 percent. All boat ramps remain closed due to low water. Last updated 9/28/22.

SOUTH TWIN LAKE: rainbow trout

Open to fishing all year, expect low water conditions at North and South Twin lakes. Anglers report excellent fishing, and North and South Twin received a fresh stocking of trout in mid-August and a stocking of trophy trout in late August. Last updated 8/31/22.

SPRAGUE POND: rainbow trout

No recent reports.

Turn at Cow Meadow sign off USFS Rd 40. Take first left at first dirt road and follow road to pond. Last updated 12/15/21.

TAYLOR LAKE (Wasco County): rainbow trout

Taylor Lake was scheduled to be stocked the last week of September, but the fall stocking has been postponed until early October. Last updated 9/22/22.

THREE CREEK LAKE: rainbow trout, brook trout

Anglers report excellent fishing at Three Creek Lake and Little Three Creek Lake. Open to fishing all year. Last updated 9/14/22.

WALTON LAKE: rainbow trout

No recent updates. Last updated 6/1/22.

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

Anglers should expect to see fewer kokanee in Wickiup Reservoir this year following recent reservoir drawdowns. Anglers are reporting increased catches of rainbow trout this year than in the past. The reservoir is very low at 5 percent. Under low water conditions, boat ramps may be unavailable for launching large watercraft. Last updated 9/28/22.