Recreation Report
Central Zone
Recreation Report
-Photo by Adam Fargher-
Dec. 18, 2024
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Best bets for weekend fishing
- Excess brood rainbow trout from Oak Springs Hatchery have been released at Haystack Reservoir, this is a unique opportunity to catch trophy-size fish.
- The Metolius River continues to be excellent for mountain whitefish, redband trout and bull trout. The Metolius from Allingham Bridge to the headwaters closed for the season on Nov. 1.
- Anglers report consistent winter nymphing on the Fall River.
- Anglers and guides continue to report good nymphing for trout and whitefish on the Crooked River below Bowman Dam.
- Steelhead fishing on the Deschutes around South Junction and Mecca Flat has been good the past few weeks
- Taylor Lake and Pine Hollow Reservoir were stocked last week with about 300 brood trout each.
- Trout fishing has been steady on the lower Deschutes.
Trout stocking
Trout stocking will resume in March 2025.
Check out the 2025 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
Recreation Report holiday break
Due to the upcoming holidays, we'll be taking a break from the Recreation Report the weeks of Dec. 23 and 30. The Rec Report will resume publication the week of Jan. 6, 2025.
Ice fishing safety
With several water bodies beginning to ice over, anglers need to be cautious during first-ice conditions. Take the following precautions: use the "buddy system," wear a PFD in case of thin ice, carry a throw-rope, and use a heavy metal staff to check for thin-ice. The Minnesota DNR has developed guidelines for ice thickness and other safety tips. Remember that any hole cut in the ice for fishing can't be larger than 12 inches in diameter.
If your favorite fishing spot is no longer listed
It's probably because that river, lake or reservoir is closed for the season, inaccessible due to snow and bad roads, or offers limited fishing opportunities during the winter months. These waterbodies will re-appear in the Recreation Report when they re-open next spring, or when access and/or opportunity improves.
Crooked River adult steelhead releases
Excess adult steelhead are being released in the Crooked River below Bowman Dam. Remember, all rainbow trout over 20 inches long must be released unharmed. The steelhead will be marked with two green plastic tags by the dorsal fin. Also, some fish will be radio tagged, look for a long, clear antenna that looks like monofilament protruding from the fish's mouth.
If caught, please keep the fish in the water as much as possible and avoid laying the fish on the bank. The fish should be handled as little as possible and the tags left intact. Please report when and where the fish were caught to either the Bend (541-388-6363) or Prineville ODFW offices (541-447-5111).
Winter Road Closures
The Deschutes County Road Department, in partnership with the U. S. Forest Service (USFS), will close Cascade Lakes Highway and Paulina Lake Road at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 19. Please note: The roadways may be closed earlier if there are significant weather events before Nov. 19. You can check the Road Department website for updates. Forest Service Road 16 which provides vehicle access to Three Creeks Lake will close for the year Nov. 6, 2024.
Whisky Creek Fire - Mt. Hood National Forest
Access to Whatum Lake, Scout Lake, Rainy Lake, Black Lake, Bear Lake, and Warren Lake trailhead is closed due to an active wildfire.
Fish consumption advisories
The Oregon Health Authority has issued consumption guidelines for parts of the Columbia River due to high levels of mercury and/or PCBs. Fish with these chemicals look, act, smell and taste like any other fish, so caution is important.
Sign up for the latest information on boater access
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
Snow may limit access to the reservoir. Contact the Ochoco National Forest for road updates (541) 416-6500. Last updated 11/20/24.
BIKINI POND: trout
No recent report. Last updated 9/25/24.
CENTURY GRAVEL POND: rainbow trout
Winter access is limited by road closures. The pond is located ¼ mile west of the junction of USFS Rd 46 (Century Drive) and USFS Rd 4635. Last updated 12/11/24.
CRANE PRAIRIE RESERVOIR: rainbow trout, brook trout, largemouth bass, kokanee
Crane Prairie closed to fishing on Oct. 31 and reopen April 22, 2025. Last updated 11/20/24.
CRESCENT LAKE: rainbow trout, brown trout, lake trout and kokanee
Open to fishing all year. Winter access is limited by road closures.
Crescent Lake is currently 13 percent full and access to the lake may be limited by low water levels. One lake trout per day, 24-inch minimum length. Anglers can now keep 5 kokanee in addition to daily trout limit.Last updated 11/27/24.
CROOKED RIVER: trout, whitefish
Open to fishing all year below Bowman Dam. The Crooked continues to fish well. Anglers should expect outflow from Bowman Dam to be held at 100 cfs during the winter irrigation storage season. Nymphing has been the most effective method, but fly-anglers should keep an eye out for fishing rising in afternoon. Try blue wing olive or midge patterns. November and December is Mountain whitefish spawning season and yellowish egg patterns can be an effective tactic.
Anglers are reminded that steelhead may be present in the Crooked River and that Rainbow trout over 20 inches are considered steelhead and must be immediately released, unharmed.
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 11/27/24.
DAVIS LAKE: largemouth bass, rainbow trout
Open to fishing all year, but snow and ice may limit access.
Fly-fishing only, barbless hooks required. Catch-and-release for trout. No limit on size or number of warmwater fish. Davis Lake anglers may encounter bull trout which must be immediately released unharmed. Last updated 11/20/24.
DESCHUTES RIVER, mouth to Pelton Dam: steelhead, redband trout, whitefish
Trout fishing on the lower Deschutes has been consistently good lately and there have been quite a few anglers out between Mecca and Trout Creek. Steelhead fishing has been keeping up well for this time of year, and anglers had a good weekend between South Junction and Mecca.
On Jan. 1, all fishing from the northern boundary of the Warm Springs Reservation upstream to the Pelton Re-reg dam closes. This section reopens on April 22.
Chinook season is closed on the Deschutes, but coho retention is open through Dec. 31. Chinook are currently spawning in the mainstem Deschutes. Watch out for their redds or activity spawning fish if you are wading in areas with a lot of gravel substrate.
If you catch a steelhead, coho, or fall Chinook with an orange external tag that reads "ODFW THE DALLES" please record the tag number and call our office 541-296-4628. If you release the fish, please leave the orange tag in place. Last updated 12/18/24.
DESCHUTES RIVER, Lake Billy Chinook to Benham Falls: rainbow trout, brown trout, whitefish
Open to fishing all year. Anglers report fair fishing around Dillon Falls, upstream of the Old Mill area in Bend and around Tumalo State Park. Nymphing has been the most effective method. Last updated 11/6/24.
DESCHUTES RIVER, Benham Falls to Little Lava Lake: rainbow trout, brown trout
The Deschutes River upstream of Benham Falls closed for the year on Sept. 30, 2024. Last update 10/2/24.
EAST LAKE: rainbow trout, brown trout, kokanee
Paulina Lake Road has been closed for the season. Forest Service facilities including docks and bathrooms have been winterized for the year.
Open to fishing all year. Anglers can now keep 5 kokanee in addition to daily trout limit. Last updated 11/20/24.
FALL RIVER: rainbow trout, brown trout
Fly-anglers continue to report good and consistent fishing in the Fall River. Nymphing and stripping small streamers have been the most effective methods. With cool winter water temperatures look for fish congregating in the deeper runs.
A reminder to anglers that new regulations are in effect for Fall River and the river is now closed to fishing below Fall River Falls Oct. 1 through May 21. Fall River above Fall River Falls remains open year-round. Restricted to fly-fishing with barbless hooks only. ODFW staff have noticed an increase in lures being used in Fall River and remind anglers that the use of lures and bait is prohibited. Last updated 12/4/24.
HAYSTACK RESERVOIR: rainbow trout, kokanee, black crappie, bluegill, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, brown bullhead
Excess brood rainbow trout were released into Haystack Reservoir the third week of December. This is a rare opportunity for anglers to catch trophy-size broodstock rainbow trout in Haystack Reservoir this winter.
The boat ramps at the campgrounds on the east and west side of the reservoir have been closed for the season. The parking lot near the handicap fishing pier remains open year-round.
Following draining of Haystack Reservoir for maintenance, anglers should expect slow fishing as the reservoir is restocked and fish populations rebound. Last updated 12/18/24.
HOOD RIVER: Steelhead, rainbow and cutthroat trout
No recent reports. There have been a few anglers out salmon or steelhead fishing at the mouth of the Hood. The Hood is open for hatchery coho and hatchery steelhead retention year-round, but Chinook retention is only open in the spring. Last updated 9/24/24.
HOSMER LAKE: brook, rainbow and cutthroat trout
Hosmer Lake is open to fishing all year. Winter access is limited by road closures. Restricted to fly-fishing only with barbless hooks. Catch-and-release for all species. Last updated 11/27/24.
LAKE BILLY CHINOOK: bull, brown and rainbow trout, kokanee, smallmouth bass
Anglers continue to report good fishing for both kokanee and bull trout. The Metolius Arm closed at the end of October.
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 12/11/24.
LAURANCE LAKE: rainbow trout
Laurance Lake is closed for the season and will reopen to fishing on April 22, 2025. Last updated 11/20/24.
LAVA LAKE, Big: rainbow trout
Winter access is limited by road closures. Open to fishing all year. Last updated 11/27/24.
METOLIUS RIVER: rainbow trout, bull trout
The Metolius River continues to be excellent for mountain whitefish, redband trout, and bull trout. Nymphing with stonefly, mayfly or caddisfly nymphs has been effective for trout and streamers are a good bet for bull trout.
Catch-and-release for trout including bull trout. Fishing is restricted to fly-fishing only upstream of Bridge 99 (Lower Bridge).
The Metolius River from Allingham Bridge upstream to the headwaters closed for the season Nov. 1 and will reopen May 22, 2025.
Artificial flies and lures permitted below Bridge 99 (Lower Bridge). Last updated 11/20/24.
NORTH TWIN LAKE: rainbow trout
Open to fishing all year; however, winter access can be limited by snow. North and South Twin were last stocked in September. Last updated 11/27/24.
OCHOCO RESERVOIR: rainbow trout, black crappie, smallmouth bass
The reservoir is 51 percent full and shouldn't change much over the winter as irrigation has ended for the year. Recent reports of good rainbow trout fishing and large fish from the bank near Ochoco Dam. Last updated 10/23/24.
ODELL LAKE: lake trout, kokanee, rainbow trout
Odell Lake closed to fishing on Oct. 31 and will reopen April 22, 2025. Last updated 11/20/24.
PAULINA LAKE: brown trout, rainbow trout, kokanee
Open to fishing all year, but the road leading to the lake has been closed for the season. Forest Service facilities including docks and bathrooms have been winterized for the year.
Open to fishing all year. Anglers can now keep 5 kokanee in addition to daily trout limit. Last updated 11/20/24.
PINE HOLLOW RESERVOIR: rainbow trout, largemouth bass, bluegill
Oak Springs had surplus brood trout at the hatchery, so 300 brood fish were stocked in Pine Hollow this week. Hatchery staff reported that there was ice in the middle of the lake, but the reservoir is fishable from the bank Last updated 12/11/24.
PINE NURSERY POND: trout, largemouth bass
Open to fishing all year. No recent fishing reports. Limit is 2 fish per day. Last updated 12/13/23.
PRINEVILLE RESERVOIR: rainbow trout, largemouth and smallmouth bass, crappie
Open to fishing all year. The reservoir is 55 percent full. Anglers report fair fishing for trout, crappie and bass. Last updated 11/27/24.
SOUTH TWIN LAKE: rainbow trout
Open to fishing all year however, winter access can be limited by snow. North and South Twin were last stocked in September. Last updated 11/27/24.
SPRAGUE POND: rainbow trout
Sprague Pond was stocked in mid-May. Winter access is limited by road closures.
Turn at Cow Meadow sign off USFS Rd 40. Take first left at first dirt road and follow road to pond. Last updated 5/24/23.
TAYLOR LAKE (Wasco County): rainbow trout
The lake was stocked the week of Dec. 9 with about 300 excess brood trout. Last updated 12/11/24.
THREE CREEK LAKE: rainbow trout, brook trout
Forest Service Road 16 which provides vehicle access to Three Creeks Lake is closed for the year. Open to fishing all year. Last updated 11/6/24.
WALTON LAKE: rainbow trout
The U.S. Forest Service has reopened public access to Walton Lake; however, winter access will be walk-in only as the gate has been closed for the season. Open to fishing all year. Last updated 11/20/24.
WICKIUP RESERVOIR: kokanee, brown trout, rainbow trout, largemouth bass
Wickiup Reservoir closed to fishing on Oct. 31 and will reopen April 22, 2025.
A reminder that Deschutes River regulations (May 22 opener) apply upstream of the markers near Sheeps Bridge. Last updated 11/20/24.