Recreation Report
Central Zone
Recreation Report
Sept. 27, 2023
If there’s not a photo, it didn’t happen
Submit your fishing photo to ODFW and we might use it here or elsewhere on MyODFW.com.
Best bets for weekend fishing
- Fishing at Crane Prairie has been getting better thanks to cooler temperatures.
- The green drake hatch is underway on the Metolius River.
- Anglers continue to report good trout fishing and excellent kokanee fishing on Paulina Lake.
- Anglers continue to report good and consistent fishing on the Crooked River below Bowman Dam.
- This is the last week to get out on the Upper Deschutes River (Benham Falls to Litte Lava Lake) and lower Fall River (below the falls) before they close to protect fish for the fall and winter on Oct. 1.
- We're still getting reports of good salmon fishing at Sherars Falls.
- Deschutes River below Moody Rapid is open for fishing.
Recently stocked
Scheduled to be stocked this week:
Trillium Lake, Foster Reservoir, Pine Hollow Reservoir, Prineville Fishing Pond, Bikini Pond
Recently stocked:
Pine Nursery Pond, Walton Lake, Taylor Lake, Pine Hollow Reservoir
Check out the 2023 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
E-tagging tips for anglers
It's important for anglers to tag their salmon and steelhead immediately, which means you'll need to know how to navigate the MyODFW app outside of cell phone range. Here are some tips for e-tagging in the field.
Parasitic Copepods in the Twin lakes
Anglers have been reporting rainbow trout with heavy parasite loads of the common parasitic copepod, Salmincola californiensis in North and South Twin lakes this summer. There are no health concerns with consuming fish with these copepods. They are typically attached to the gills, fins, and skin of the fish and are usually not present in filets. This ODFW webpage shows common fish diseases and parasites including the copepod.
Boulder Fire, Mt. Hood National Forest
Due to the active Boulder Fire in the Mt. Hood National Forest, access to Boulder Lake (Big and Little), Jean Lake and Badger Lake is currently closed.
Bedrock Fire, Willamette National Forest
Smoke from the Bedrock Fire burning north of Oakridge may affect recreation in Central Oregon, especially along the Cascade Lakes Highway and Hoodoo area. Anglers are encouraged to check air quality before heading out to fish.
Pete's Lake Fire, Deschutes National Forest
Smoke and trail closures from the Pete's Lake Fire burning west of Elk Lake may affect recreation in Central Oregon, especially along the Cascade Lakes Highway. Anglers are encouraged to check air quality, and road and trail closures before heading out to fish.
Pitch in to keep water banks clean
We wish it didn’t have to be this way. But as more anglers hit the water, more trash piles up on shore. We know it’s not your job to pick up discarded beer cans, slurpee cups, fishing line, hamburger wrappers and other trash that isn’t yours. But if everyone pitched in and picked up what they saw, wouldn’t it be a nicer place to fish?
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
Antelope Flat was last stocked in mid-May. Expect low and dirty water conditions. Last updated 5/24/23.
BIKINI POND: trout
Bikini Pond is scheduled to be stocked the week of Sept. 27 with a small load of legal-size trout. Last updated 9/27/23.
CENTURY GRAVEL POND: rainbow trout
Century Pond was stocked with rainbow trout in mid-May. The pond is located ¼ mile west of the junction of USFS Rd 46 (Century Drive) and USFS Rd 4635. Last updated 5/24/23.
CRANE PRAIRIE RESERVOIR: rainbow trout, brook trout, largemouth bass, kokanee
Trout fishing at Crane Prairie has improved in recent weeks with cooler water temperatures. The reservoir is currently 69 percent full. Last updated 9/27/23.
CRESCENT LAKE: rainbow trout, brown trout, lake trout and kokanee
Open to fishing all year. Crescent Lake is currently 7 percent full. One lake trout per day, 24-inch minimum length. Last updated 9/13/23.
CROOKED RIVER: trout, whitefish
Open to fishing all year below Bowman Dam. Anglers continue to report good and consistent fishing below Bowman Dam. Rainbow trout over 20 inches are considered steelhead and must be released. Anglers report good trout fishing.
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 9/13/23.
DAVIS LAKE: largemouth bass, rainbow trout
Open to fishing all year. Davis Lake water level remains low, making launching boats difficult. 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 5/24/23.
DESCHUTES RIVER, mouth to Pelton Dam: steelhead, fall Chinook, coho, redband trout, whitefish
Anglers have been reporting good trout fishing lately between Warm Springs, Mecca, Trout Creek and Maupin. Anglers are reporting good action on nymphs and excellent dry fly-fishing during evening hatches.
Chinook fishing at Sherars has been good the past few weeks, with many reports of nice fish caught. Anglers have been reporting coho caught this week too. Steelhead fishing has been consistent over the past few weeks on the lower river. Both fly and gear anglers have been successful. White River has been making the Deschutes intermittently turbid. Fishing has been slow when the river is murky.
The Deschutes Steelhead Fishery Framework was established in 2021 and defines standards for opening or closing the steelhead sport fishery. Based on counts of wild steelhead over Bonneville Dam, steelhead fishing will remain open on the Deschutes River in 2023.
The Deschutes River below Moody Rapid is open for fishing. Last updated 9/26/23.
DESCHUTES RIVER, Benham Falls to Little Lava Lake: rainbow trout, brown trout
Anglers continue to report good brown trout fishing below Wickiup Dam and good brook trout fishing above Crane Prairie but be prepared for mosquitoes. Last updated 9/13/23.
EAST LAKE: rainbow trout, brown trout, kokanee
Anglers continue to report good trout fishing, but low lake levels make it difficult to launch larger boats. Last updated 9/13/23.
FALL RIVER: rainbow trout, brown trout
Fly-anglers continue to report good spring fishing in the Fall River. Nymphing has been the most effective method. The river was last stocked in early September.
A reminder to anglers that new regulations are now in effect for Fall River. The river is open to fishing all year above Fall River Falls and open to fishing May 22 – Sep 30 below the falls. Restricted to fly-fishing with barbless hooks only. Last updated 9/13/23.
HAYSTACK RESERVOIR: rainbow trout, kokanee, black crappie, bluegill, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, brown bullhead
Following draining of Haystack Reservoir for maintenance, anglers should expect slow fishing as the reservoir is restocked and fish populations rebound. Last updated 7/12/23.
HOOD RIVER: Hatchery coho, hatchery steelhead, rainbow, and cutthroat trout
The Hood River is muddy due to rain. No recent fishing reports. Last updated 9/27/23.
HOSMER LAKE: brook, rainbow and cutthroat trout
Open to fishing all year. Anglers continue to report good brook, cutthroat and rainbow trout fishing. Restricted to fly-fishing only with barbless hooks. Catch-and-release for all species. Last updated 9/6/23.
KINGSLEY RESERVOUR: rainbow trout
Kingsley Reservoir is now accessible and open to the public. Last updated 9/6/23.
LAKE BILLY CHINOOK: bull, brown and rainbow trout, kokanee, smallmouth bass
Anglers report fair kokanee, bass, and bull trout fishing. Tribal fishing permits are required for the Metolius Arm.
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 9/13/23.
LAURANCE LAKE: rainbow trout
No recent reports. Laurance Lake closes to fishing Nov. 1. Last updated 9/20/23.
LAVA LAKE, Big: rainbow trout
Open to fishing all year. Anglers report good fishing for rainbow trout. Last updated 6/28/23.
METOLIUS RIVER: rainbow trout, bull trout
The Metolius River continues to fish well. The fall green drake hatch is in full swing and should continue through early October. 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).
Artificial flies and lures permitted below Bridge 99 (Lower Bridge). Last updated 9/27/23.
NORTH TWIN LAKE: rainbow trout
Open to fishing all year. Anglers continue to report good fishing for stocked trout. North and South Twin were last stocked with trophy trout in early September. Last updated 9/13/23.
OCHOCO RESERVOIR: rainbow trout, black crappie, smallmouth bass
The reservoir is 33 percent full. No recent fishing reports. Last updated 9/13/23.
ODELL LAKE: lake trout, kokanee, rainbow trout
Anglers continue to report fair kokanee fishing and good lake trout fishing. Odell Lake anglers may encounter bull trout which must be immediately released unharmed. Last updated 9/13/23.
PAULINA LAKE: brown trout, rainbow trout, kokanee
Open to fishing all year. Anglers continue to report good trout fishing and excellent kokanee fishing with pre-spawning fish in the 13 to 14-inch range. Last updated 9/27/23.
PINE HOLLOW RESERVOIR: rainbow trout, largemouth bass, bluegill
Pine Hollow was stocked the week of Sept. 27 with 2,000 legal-size fish, 375 two-pound fish, and 30-40 brood fish. Last updated 9/27/23.
PINE NURSERY POND: trout, largemouth bass
Open to fishing all year. No recent fishing reports. Limit is 2 fish per day. Last updated 7/19/23.
PRINEVILLE RESERVOIR: rainbow trout, largemouth and smallmouth bass, crappie
Prineville Reservoir at 62 percent full. Anglers report fair fishing for trout, crappie and bass. Currently experiencing an algae bloom. Last updated 9/27/23.
SOUTH TWIN LAKE: rainbow trout
Open to fishing all year. Anglers continue to report good fishing for stocked trout. North and South Twin were last stocked with trophy trout in early September. Last updated 9/13/23.
SPRAGUE POND: rainbow trout
Sprague Pond was stocked in mid-May.
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
Taylor Lake was stocked on the week of Sept. 25 with 2,000 legal-size fish, 375 two-pound fish, and 30-40 brood fish. Last updated 9/27/23.
THREE CREEK LAKE: rainbow trout, brook trout
Open to fishing all year. After being closed to reconstruct the non-paved portion of Forest Road 16, Three Creeks Lake was stocked in August and anglers report light use and good trout fishing. Last updated 9/6/23.
WALTON LAKE: rainbow trout
Anglers report slow/fair fishing. Best results when fishing early in the morning when water temperature is cooler. During the hot part of the day, fish will be deeper, and anglers can have luck fishing just above the submerged weeds. Last updated 7/19/23.
WICKIUP RESERVOIR: kokanee, brown trout, rainbow trout, largemouth bass
Anglers report fair kokanee and bass fishing. The reservoir is currently 18 percent full. As water levels drop launching a boat at the North Wickiup boat ramp will become challenging.
The Deschutes River Arm from the boat ramp at Gull Point Campground to the ODFW Markers just upstream of Sheeps Bridge closed for the season on Sept. 1 to protect spawning fish. Last updated 9/13/23.
