Regulation Updates as of April 17, 2018
These are in-season regulation changes adopted on a temporary or emergency basis. Please see e-regulations for permanent regulations.
2018 STOCKING SCHEDULE AND STOCKING MAP
ANTELOPE FLAT RESERVOIR: rainbow trout
No recent ice or fishing reports. Reservoir could be frozen over. Use caution if ice fishing. Opportunities for 12- to 18-inch rainbow are good. Call the Ochoco National Forest for snow and access conditions (541-416-6500)
Check the 2018 stocking schedule.
BIKINI POND: rainbow trout
The pond has been recently stocked, and there could be lots of holdover trout from last fall’s stocking.
Check the 2018 stocking schedule.
CRANE PRAIRIE RESERVOIR: rainbow trout, brook trout, largemouth bass, kokanee
Reservoir will open to fishing on Sunday, April 22. All wild rainbow trout must be released.
CRESCENT LAKE: rainbow trout, brown trout, lake trout and kokanee
Anglers report good fishing for large lake trout. Open to fishing all year. One lake trout per day, 24-inch minimum length.
CROOKED RIVER: redband trout, mountain whitefish
Flows were increased for the irrigation season. Fishing is poor for a while as fish adjust to the change.
CULTUS LAKE, Big: rainbow trout, lake trout
Snow gates west of Mt. Bachelor between Dutchman Flat and Deschutes Bridge are closed for the winter. Open to fishing all year.
Check 2018 stocking schedule.
DESCHUTES RIVER, MOUTH TO THE PELTON REGULATING DAM: redband trout, summer steelhead, whitefish
Trout anglers should focus efforts on softer waters throughout the river. Nymph fishing can be productive during the winter months. As we progress into spring on the Lower Deschutes, trout will start becoming more active and looking for food to fatten up after winter. Take advantage of any early warm and sunny days by drifting nymphs. You may start seeing some hatches during the middle of the day.
Steelhead from last summer’s run will start spawning soon, so it’s best not to target them at this time. 2018 steelhead won’t start entering the Deschutes until late July.
Spring Chinook anglers will have the opportunity to fish on the Lower Deschutes from April 15 to June 30. The daily limit will be 1 adult and 5 jack chinook. Once an angler retains the daily adult limit of one spring chinook, that angler can no longer fish for any species of fish from Sherars Falls downstream to the railroad trestle (the bait section).
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.
Counts at the Sherars Falls salmon and steelhead trap. The trap is only in operation from July to the end of October. Trapping has ended at Sherars Falls for the season.
Lake Billy Chinook to Benham Falls: rainbow trout, brown trout
River levels have dropped considerably below Bend. Open for trout all year. Fishing restricted to artificial flies and lures. No size or limits on brown trout and no harvest of bull trout.
Benham Falls upstream to Little Lava Lake:
Closed to fishing for the season. Will reopen May 22, 2018.
DEVILS LAKE: rainbow trout
Snow gates west of Mt. Bachelor between Dutchman Flat and Deschutes Bridge are closed for the winter. Open to fishing all year.
Check the 2018 stocking schedule.
EAST LAKE: rainbow trout, brown trout, kokanee
Forest Service Road 21 is closed for the winter at its snow park gate. Open to fishing all year. Wild rainbow trout must be released.
Check the 2018 stocking schedule.
ELK LAKE: brook trout, kokanee, cutthroat trout
Snow gates west of Mt. Bachelor between Dutchman Flat and Deschutes Bridge are closed for the winter. 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
Trout fishing continues to be fair during the warmer parts of the day. Open to fishing all year. Restricted to fly-fishing with barbless hooks only.
Check the 2018 stocking schedule.
HAYSTACK RESERVOIR: rainbow trout, kokanee, largemouth bass, black crappie, bluegill
The west shore recreation area will be temporarily closed April 9- May 4 for repaving. The east shore boat ramp and other campgrounds will remain open. Contact Lynette Ripley of BOR at (541) 389-6541 ext 233 for more information.
Check the 2018 stocking schedule.
HOOD RIVER: steelhead
Anglers are reporting relatively good catch of a hatchery and wild winter steelhead, mostly in the lower river. A recent push of some Hood River fish were detected at Bonneville Dam, which should mean a more fish this week. Methods with bobbers generally work well on the Hood such as bobber and bait, beads and jigs.
A season for spring Chinook will again be allowed on the Hood River from April 15 to June 30. The daily bag limit will be 2 adult and 5 jack Chinook.
HOSMER LAKE: brook, rainbow and cutthroat trout
Snow gates west of Mt. Bachelor between Dutchman Flat and Deschutes Bridge are closed for the winter. Open to fishing all year. Restricted to fly-fishing only with barbless hooks. Catch-and-release for all species.
Check the 2018 stocking schedule.
KINGSLEY RESERVOIR:
Due to dam reconstruction, Kingsley Reservoir will be closed to the public in 2018 and 2019.
LAKE BILLY CHINOOK: bull, brown and rainbow trout, kokanee, smallmouth bass
Bull trout fishing is good in the Metolius arm and fair in the Deschutes and Crooked arms. Kokanee fishing is also good in the Metolius arm and fair in the Deschutes and Crooked arms. Kokanee are averaging 9 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.
LAKE SIMTUSTUS: bull trout, rainbow trout, smallmouth bass
Opportunities for 12- to 16-inch rainbow trout are fair. A tribal permit is required.
LAURANCE LAKE:
Due to dam maintenance, Laurance Lake will be closed to the public in 2018.
LAVA LAKE, Big: rainbow trout
Snow gates west of Mt. Bachelor between Dutchman Flat and Deschutes Bridge are closed for the winter. The lake is open to fishing all year.
Check the 2018 stocking schedule.
METOLIUS RIVER: redband trout, bull trout
Anglers report good fishing during the warmest parts of the day. Closed to fishing above Allingham Bridge. Fishing is restricted to fly-fishing only upstream of Bridge 99 (Lower Bridge). Catch-and-release for trout including bull trout. Artificial flies and lures permitted below Bridge 99 (Lower Bridge). No bait allowed.
NORTH TWIN LAKE: rainbow trout
Lake will be stocked with rainbow trout this week. Open to fishing all year.
Check the 2018 stocking schedule.
OCHOCO CREEK UPSTREAM TO OCHOCO DAM: rainbow trout
Fishing is restricted to artificial flies and lures only; two trout per day with an 8-inch minimum length. Trout 20-inches and greater must be released unharmed.
OCHOCO RESERVOIR: rainbow trout, black crappie, smallmouth bass
Opportunities for both wild and hatchery rainbow trout continue to be very good. Average size is 12- to 16-inches. Trout are widespread throughout the reservoir. Black crappie and smallmouth bass are also available but less active during winter.
ODELL LAKE: lake trout, kokanee, rainbow trout
Lake will open to fishing on Sunday, April 22. 25 kokanee per day in addition to daily trout limit. Closed to fishing for bull trout. All tributaries to Odell Lake are closed to fishing.
PAULINA LAKE: brown trout, rainbow trout, kokanee
Forest Service Road 21 is closed for the winter at the snow park gate. The lake is open to fishing all year. Wild rainbow trout must be released.
Check the 2018 stocking schedule.
PINE HOLLOW RESERVOIR: rainbow trout, largemouth bass
The Reservoir has been stocked recently and there should be lots of holdover trout from last fall’s stocking.
Check the 2018 stocking schedule.
PINE NURSERY POND (Bend): rainbow trout, bluegill, bass
Pond will be stocked with rainbow trout this week. Open to fishing all year. Anglers may keep two fish per day.
Check the 2018 stocking schedule.
PRINEVILLE RESERVOIR: rainbow trout, largemouth and smallmouth bass, crappie
Angler reports suggest increased stocking last year has resulted in anglers catching more and bigger fish. There are recent reports of fish up to 20-inches being caught.
PRINEVILLE YOUTH FISHING POND: rainbow trout and largemouth bass
Fishing has been good for the recently stocked rainbow trout.
Check the 2018 stocking schedule.
ROCK CREEK RESERVOIR: rainbow trout
The reservoir has been stocked and fishing should be good.
Check the 2018 stocking schedule.
SHEVLIN YOUTH FISHING POND: rainbow trout
Pond will be stocked with rainbow trout this week. Open all year. Open to youth only (17 years and under) and disabled anglers. Limit is two fish per day.
Check the 2018 stocking schedule.
SOUTH TWIN LAKE: rainbow trout
Lake will be stocked with rainbow trout this week. Open to fishing all year.
Check the 2018 stocking schedule.
SPARKS LAKE: cutthroat trout
Snow gates west of Mt. Bachelor between Dutchman Flat and Deschutes Bridge are closed for the winter. Open to fishing all year. Fly-fishing only, barbless hooks required.
SUTTLE LAKE: brown trout, kokanee
Open to fishing all year. Bull trout have been reported in Suttle Lake. These must be released unharmed. Anglers are reminded to be familiar with fish identification. Twenty-five kokanee per day in addition to daily trout limit. No size limits on kokanee.
TAYLOR LAKE (Wasco County): rainbow trout, largemouth bass
Taylor Lake was recently stocked and should be a good opportunity to catch a few trout.
Check the 2018 stocking schedule.
THREE CREEK LAKE: rainbow trout, brook trout
The road to the lake is closed. Open to fishing all year.
Check the 2018 stocking schedule.
WALTON LAKE: rainbow trout
Lake condition is unknown and the gate is closed. Access is via foot. Anglers are encouraged to use caution while ice fishing.
Check the 2018 stocking schedule.
WICKIUP RESERVOIR: kokanee, brown trout, rainbow trout, largemouth bass
Reservoir will open to fishing on Sunday, April 22. 5 kokanee per day in addition to daily trout limit. Deschutes Arm upstream of Sheep’s Bridge is closed above ODFW marker.