Recreation Report

Central Zone

September 17, 2020

Regulation Updates

Regulation Updates as of August 12, 2020

These are in-season regulation changes adopted on a temporary or emergency basis. Please see e-regulations for permanent regulations.

**Columbia River Thermal Angling Sanctuaries and associated Oregon tributaries*.**

Many sanctuary boundaries span zones so rule modifications are in both the Central and Columbia River zones.

Deschutes River (Central Zone)

Area definition: From markers at lower end of Moody Rapids downstream to the mouth at Interstate 84 Bridge.

July 15 – September 15: Closed to angling.
September 16 – December 31: One hatchery steelhead allowed in the adult salmonid daily limit.
All other limits and restrictions remain unchanged from those listed in the 2020 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulation for the Deschutes River.

See Columbia Zone for the area below the Interstate 84 Bridge.

*Permanent regulations apply for other sections of the above tributaries

Eagle Creek (Central Zone)

Area definition: From the angling deadline in Eagle Creek (200 feet downstream of hatchery fishway entrance) downstream to the mouth at the mainline railroad bridge.

July 15 – September 15: Closed to angling.
September 16 - November 30: Salmonid angling and retention prohibited.
December 1 – 31: One hatchery steelhead allowed in the adult salmonid daily limit.

See Columbia Zone for the area below the mainline railroad bridge.

Herman Creek (Central Zone)

Area definition: Above the mainline railroad bridge.

No changes to regulations listed in the 2020 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulation.

See Columbia Zone for area(s) below the mainline railroad bridge.

For more information contact your local ODFW office:

Bend (541) 388-6363
The Dalles (541) 296-4628
Prineville (541) 447-5111

Recreation Report

Smallmouth bass, Umpqua River — Big Sister showing her little Brother how it's done! Umpqua River. Photo by Wesley Freadman-

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.

Send us your fishing report

We’d love to hear about your recent fishing experience. Send us your own fishing report through ODFW Fishing Reports―the information will be forwarded to the local biologist who may use it to update various ODFW resources such as the weekly Recreation Report.

FISHING UPDATES

LAKES, PONDS, RESERVOIRS

With the onset of warm weather (and more on the way), anglers should target larger, deeper and higher elevation waterbodies 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.

Poor snowpack and drought for the last several years has resulted in poor water quantity and quality in many parts of the upper Deschutes. Wickiup Reservoir is at 17 percent of capacity and will be at zero storage well before the end of irrigation season. Several lakes and reservoirs including Lake Billy Chinook, Crane Prairie, Big Lava and Odell have algae blooms.

Lakes and ponds to fish this week:

Lost Lake and Ollalie Lake where water levels and temperatures are in great shape for trout fishing. Fire closures may be in effect for Ollalie Lake, please check on the Mt. Hood National Forest website. 9/9/20

RIVERS AND STREAMS

Low water levels in rivers and streams make fish more susceptible to effect 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.

Rivers to fish this week:

The Crooked River has been popular amongst anglers, and the fishing has been excellent due to the stable flow and water temperature. 8/19/20
Peak steelhead fishing occurs in September on the lower Deschutes River from Sherars Falls downstream to Moody Rapids. Water clarity from the White River has recently made fishing more challenging. However, some periods of clarity during fishing hours are being reported. 9/9/20

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.

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: closures, special events, etc.

2020 wildfire effects on fishing: Check before you go

ODFW can’t tell you whether to go fishing or not. We will try to steer you to information about fire closures, access issues and air quality considerations so you can make an informed decision about whether to go.

You’ll now find all wildfire information related to hunting, fishing and recreating, on both public and private land, in one central location on MyODFW.com. This page will be updated frequently, so be sure to check again before you go.

Widespread closures include:

Mt. Hood, Willamette, Siuslaw and some districts within the Siskiyou national forests.
Clatsop, Tillamook and Santiam state forests.
Most privately-owned timber lands.
Many county and regional parks and boat ramps.

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.

Odell Lake: The Oregon Health Authority had issued a recreational use health advisory for Odell Lake due to the presence of a cyanobacteria (harmful algae) bloom.

Lower Deschutes River: The river is closed to fishing from Moody Rapids to the mouth until Sept. 15.

UPDATES BY WATERBODY

ANTELOPE FLAT RESERVOIR: rainbow trout

No recent fishing reports. There are plenty of trout available, though water clarity and warm water temperature may make fishing difficult. Best chance to catch fish would be early morning when the fish are actively feeding before the temperatures go up. Last updated 8/19/20.

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

No recent fishing reports. Anglers report good fishing but Reservoir temperatures are very warm so take caution in playing fish too long. Trout are congregating in the deeper channels or at the mouths of cold water tributaries. Wild rainbow trout must be released. Last updated 8/19/20.

Water temperatures and flow on the Crooked remain good due to releases for irrigation and there are good populations of both trout and whitefish. Pressure is high, but fishing has still been good. Last updated 8/19/20.

CULTUS LAKE, Big: rainbow trout, lake trout

No recent fishing reports. Open to fishing all year. Last updated 7/22/20.

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

For trout, September, can be a tough month on the Deschutes. On hot sunny days, look for trout in deeper, well-aerated water, and in any spots of shade along the bank. All of the famous bug hatches are over, but caddis patterns and large stonefly nymphs can catch fish. Creel reports in July indicated that trout fishing continued to be good.

Fishing is closed from July 15-Sept. 15 from Moody Rapids downstream to the mouth of Deschutes. This area starts at the Columbia River confluence and extends upstream to Moody Rapids. This closure area is only about 0.5 miles of the Deschutes River. The remainder of the 99.5 miles of the lower Deschutes River remains under the permanent rules found in the Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations. Find more information in the Central Zone regulation update section right before this report.

Steelhead fishing has been improving in the lower Deschutes from Sherars Falls downstream to Moody Rapids. Fishing has been slow since mid-August, but cooler nights and better fish passage at The Dalles Dam should help improve fishing. Peak steelhead fishing from Moody Rapids upstream to Sherars Falls will be in September. Peak passage of steelhead at Sherars Falls generally occurs about the third and fourth week of September.

The White River has been making water clarity in the lower Deschutes less than ideal for fishing success, but should start clearing when air temperatures on Mt. Hood get colder.

In early October steelhead should be moving into the Maupin Area. By November, fish are spread throughout the basin from the mouth upstream to Pelton Dam.

Fall Chinook anglers in the Sherars Falls area should expect fishing to get better in the next two weeks. Peak fishing should be the last week of September to the first week of October. Most chinook are caught below Sherars Falls in the bait section by drifting or plunking techniques. Last updated 9/9/20.

EAST LAKE: rainbow trout, brown trout, kokanee

No recent fishing reports. Open all year to fishing. Last updated 8/12/20.

FALL RIVER: rainbow trout, brown trout

No recent fishing reports. All public access to Fall River Hatchery is closed until further notice. Open to fishing all year. Restricted to fly-fishing with barbless hooks only. Last updated 8/5/20.

HOOD RIVER: steelhead

Conditions remain unchanged. Glacial turbidity and low fish numbers will limit angler success. Anglers are reminded that fishing for fall Chinook on the Hood River is prohibited. Last updated 9/9/20.

HOSMER LAKE: brook, rainbow and cutthroat trout

No recent fishing reports. Open to fishing all year. Restricted to fly-fishing only with barbless hooks. Catch-and-release for all species. Last updated 8/5/20.

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

No recent fishing reports. Kokanee will be staging in the upper Metolius Arm as they prepare to spawn.

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 8/19/20.

LAURANCE LAKE: trout

The water quality has improved since the August algal bloom and fishing should be improving as the water temperatures continue to cool. Last updated 9/9/20.

LAVA LAKE, Big: rainbow trout

No recent fishing reports. Open to fishing all year. Last updated 8/5/20.

METOLIUS RIVER: rainbow trout, bull trout

No recent fishing reports. Bull trout fishing should improve in the upcoming weeks.

All public access to Wizard Falls Hatchery is closed until further notice. 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 8/5/20.

OCHOCO RESERVOIR: rainbow trout, black crappie, smallmouth bass

No recent fishing reports. Fishing should be great for warmwater fish and slower for trout. The boat ramp is no longer usable until the reservoir fills. Last updated 8/19/20.

PAULINA LAKE: brown trout, rainbow trout, kokanee

No recent fishing reports. Open all year to fishing. Last updated 8/19/20.

PINE HOLLOW RESERVOIR: rainbow trout, largemouth bass, bluegill

The reservoir has been stocked and should offer reasonable trout fishing through the summer months. Algae blooms are likely effecting shallow water.

Anglers are most successful at Pine Hollow using a boat. If you are 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 9/2/20.

SOUTH TWIN LAKE: rainbow trout

No recent fishing reports. Open to fishing all year.

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

This small lake can produce some very big largemouth bass. Trout fishing is slow during the hot, summer months. Although there is no designated boat launch, small boats can be used in Taylor. Last updated 8/19/20.

THREE CREEK LAKE: rainbow trout, brook trout