Central Zone

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.

LAKES, PONDS, RESERVOIRS

The Cascade Lakes Hwy remains closed for the winter, limiting access to some locations.     

Bass and panfish anglers should start keeping an eye on water temperatures. Once they reach 50 degrees, you can expect these fish to become more active. Look for them to start moving into the shallows in anticipation of spawning.

Lakes and reservoirs to fish this week:

• Several popular locations open to fishing this week (April 22) including Crane Prairie Reservoir, Laurance Lake, Odell Lake and Wickiup Rservoir.
• Both North and South Twin have been stocked, and fishing should be good.
• Several waterbodies in The Dalles district are schedules to be stocked this week, including Smock Prairie Reservoir, Rock Creek Reservoir, Taylor Lake and Pine Hollow Reservoir.

RIVERS AND STREAMS

Most streams are now closed until next spring, please check the current regulations to make sure the waterbody you want to fish is still open.

Although there are warmer temperatures in the forecast, water temperatures are still cold. Anglers should target trout during the warmest parts of the day when fish are most active.

Rivers and streams to fish this week:

• Anglers are reporting good fishing and active insect hatches during the warmest parts of the day on the Fall and Metolius rivers, and the Deschutes between Lake Billy Chinook and Benham Falls.

RECENTLY STOCKED

Stocked the week of April 12: North Twin Lake, South Twin Lake, Baker Pond

Scheduled to be stock the week of April 19: Smock Prairie Reservoir, Rock Creek Reservoir, Taylor Lake and Pine Hollow Reservoir

Check out the 2021 trout stocking schedule.

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.

ODFW email addresses to change

Beginning April 23, ___@ODFW.Oregon.gov will replace ___@state.or.us

For existing ODFW email addresses, all information before the "@" will remain the same. But the name will be followed by @ODFW.Oregon.gov.

Cascade Lakes Highway remains closed

The road from Forest Service Road 42 north to Mt. Bachelor is CLOSED. Please check the Deschutes County website for up-to-date information

New interagency map shows wildfire impacts on recreation

Hunters, anglers and wildlife viewers will be living with the impacts of the 2020 wildfire season for a long time. To help you navigate the status of popular recreation sites, natural resource management agencies in Oregon have released an interagency status map that shows open, closed and reduced service areas on a single map, regardless of reason for closure.

UPDATES BY WATERBODY

ANTELOPE FLAT RESERVOIR: rainbow trout

The lake is frozen over and access will be limited with snow in the higher elevations. Last updated 3/3/21.

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

Reservoir opens to fishing on April 22. Access to Crane Prairie Resort is marginal with some snow patches still present. Cascade Lakes Hwy from Forest Service Rd 42 north to Mt. Bachelor is CLOSED, so access to the west side of the lake is currently unavailable. Wild rainbow trout must be released unharmed. Last updated 4/21/21.

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

Lake level is extremely low for this time of year and developed boat ramps are marginal for launching larger boats. Open to fishing all year. One lake trout per day, 24-inch minimum length. Last updated 4/21/21.

CROOKED RIVER: trout, whitefish

Fishing has been good. The water remains low. Only the section downstream of Bowman Dam to Lake Billy Chinook is now open, above the dam is closed until next spring. As a reminder, any trout over 20 inches is considered a steelhead and must be immediately released unharmed. Steelhead are spawning so anglers are encouraged to avoid stepping on redds.

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 3/3/21.

DESCHUTES RIVER, mouth to the northern boundary of the Warm Springs Reservation: steelhead, redband trout, whitefish

Trout will be less active during the winter months, but can still be caught if presented something slow and tasty. Anglers interested in getting out should try nymphing large golden and black stoneflies in slow water, especially in a nice back eddy. Spring comes early on the lower Deschutes, trout will get more active in March as the water also starts to warm up.

Steelhead fishing is essentially over for the 2020-21 run year due to most fish entering spawning grounds in closed waters. New steelhead from the 2021-22 run will begin entering the Deschutes fishery in July. Last updated 2/24/21.

DESCHUTES RIVER, Northern boundary of the Warm Springs Reservation upstream to Pelton Dam: steelhead, redband trout, whitefish 

Opens to fishing April 22.

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

Anglers are reporting hatches coming out during the warmest part of the day. Open year-round for trout. Artificial flies and lures only. No limit on brown trout. Last updated 4/21/21.

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

Closed to fishing until May 22, 2021.

EAST LAKE: rainbow trout, brown trout, kokanee

Forest Service Rd. 21 remains closed at the 10-mile snow park gate. Open all year to fishing. Last updated 4/21/21.

FALL RIVER: rainbow trout, brown trout

River was stocked with rainbow trout the first week of April. Anglers report fair fishing and active hatches during the warmest part of the day. Open to fishing all year. Restricted to fly-fishing with barbless hooks only. Last updated 4/24/21.

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

The west side boat ramp is now open. Last updated 3/3/21.

HOOD RIVER: steelhead

A few winter steelhead are being reported in the lower Hood River. Anglers should expect more fish in March with the run peaking in late March. Last updated 2/17/21.

HOSMER LAKE: brook, rainbow and cutthroat trout

Snow gates west of Mt. Bachelor between Dutchman Flat and Deschutes Bridge remains closed. Open to fishing all year. Restricted to fly-fishing only with barbless hooks. Catch-and-release for all species. Last updated 4/21/21.

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

Kokanee fishing has been excellent with fish averaging around 11 inches. The Metolius Arm is now open but you will need a tribal permit in addition to your state fishing license.

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 3/3/21.

LAURANCE LAKE: trout

Laurance Lake opens to fishing on April 22.

LAVA LAKE, Big: rainbow trout

Snow gates west of Mt. Bachelor between Dutchman Flat and Deschutes Bridge remain closed. Open to fishing all year. Last updated 4/21/21.

METOLIUS RIVER: rainbow trout, bull trout

Anglers report good fishing with active hatches during the warmest part of the day. 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). River is closed to fishing above Allingham Bridge until May 22, 2021. All public access to Wizard Falls Hatchery is closed until further notice. Last updated 3/24/21.

NORTH TWIN LAKE: rainbow trout

Lake was stocked with rainbow trout last week. USFS is conducting maintenance at the campground requiring anglers to walk in. No timeframe of when the road will be open to vehicular traffic. Open to fishing all year. Last updated 4/21/21.

OCHOCO RESERVOIR: rainbow trout, black crappie, smallmouth bass

Water level is extremely low and bank access is limited and walk-in only. Last updated 11/4/20.

ODELL LAKE: lake trout, kokanee, rainbow trout

Lake opens to fishing on April 22. 25 kokanee per day in addition to daily trout limit. One lake trout per day, 24-inch minimum length. Bull trout must be released unharmed. ODFW will be conducting a creel survey on the lake in 2021 so please provide your daily angling information to ODFW when asked. The USFS boat ramps are still closed so boat access is limited to both resorts.

PAULINA LAKE: brown trout, rainbow trout, kokanee

Forest Service Rd. 21 remains closed at the 10-mile snow park gate. Last updated 4/21/21.

PINE HOLLOW RESERVOIR: rainbow trout, largemouth bass, bluegill

No recent reports. Ice is currently likely.

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. Thin ice might hamper fishing.

Bank anglers can also be successful near the boat ramp and on the dam. Last updated 2/24/21.

PINE NURSERY POND: trout, largemouth bass

Limit is 2 fish per day. Last updated 3/24/21.

SHEVLIN YOUTH FISHING POND: rainbow trout

Pond was stocked with rainbow trout last week. Open to youth only (17 years and under) and disabled anglers. Limit is two fish per day. Last updated 3/24/21.

SOUTH TWIN LAKE: rainbow trout

Lake was stocked with rainbow trout last week. Angers report good fishing. Open to fishing all year. Last updated 4/21/21.

SUTTLE LAKE: brown trout, kokanee

No recent reports. Open all year. 25 kokanee per day in addition to daily trout limit. No limit on the number or size of bass. Last updated 11/4/20.

TAYLOR LAKE (Wasco County): rainbow trout

No recent reports from anglers. Last updated 1/13/21.

THREE CREEK LAKE: rainbow trout, brook trout

Snow gate remains closed for the winter. Contact the USFS in Sisters for updates on snow gate removal. Open to fishing all year. Last updated 4/21/21.

WALTON LAKE: rainbow trout

No recent fishing reports. Access is limited to walk-in only. Last updated 11/4/20.

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

Reservoir opens to fishing on April 22. North Wickiup boat ramp is open and docks have been installed. The reservoir level is low but boats can be launched safely at this point. Five kokanee per day in addition to daily trout limit. Last updated 4/21/21.