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.

Best bets for weekend fishing:

• Golden stoneflies are hatching on the lower Deschutes and the salmonflies will be out soon.
• Paulina-East Lake Road is open and anglers are reporting good early season kokanee fishing in Paulina Lake.
• After a cold start, anglers on Crane Prairie Reservoir report fishing is picking up with the warmer weather.
• The spring Chinook run is nearing its peak on the Hood River.
• Laurance Lake was stocked last week. And while the road is still closed to vehicles, fishing should be good for anglers willing to hike the two miles to the lake.

Recently stocked

Scheduled to be stocked this week:

Metolius Pond, Antelope Flat Reservoir, north Twin Lake, Lost Lake, Clear Lake, south Twin Lake.

Recently stocked:

Fall River, Redmond Fireman’s Pond, Bikini Pond, Laurence Lake.

Check out the 2022 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

High elevation lakes in the Mt. Hood National Forest (such as Clear Lake and Frog Lake) have not yet been stocked due to snow. These waterbodies will be stocked when they are accessible (likely in the next few weeks).

Updates by waterbody

ANTELOPE FLAT RESERVOIR: rainbow trout

No recent fishing reports. Last updated 9/1/21.

BIKINI POND: rainbow trout

Bikini Pond was last stocked May 13 with 1,800 legal-size rainbow, 70 one-pound rainbow, and 25 brood-size rainbow trout. Last updated 5/25/22.

CENTURY GRAVEL POND: rainbow trout

No recent updates. The pond is located ¼ mile west of the junction of USFS Rd 46 (Century Drive) and USFS Rd 4635. Last updated 10/6/21.

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

After cold weather and cool water temperatures, anglers are reporting that fishing is improving. Both the Crane Prairie Resort and Quinn River boat ramps are accessible. Last updated 5/25/22.

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

The lake level remains extremely low and developed boat ramps are unavailable for launching boats. It is currently 8 percent full. Open to fishing all year. One lake trout per day, 24-inch minimum length. Last updated 12/15/21.

CROOKED RIVER: trout, whitefish

The Crooked River remains low, so anglers might look for trout in deeper waters.

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 3/16/22.

DAVIS LAKE: largemouth bass, rainbow trout

The water level remains extremely low and it may be difficult to launch a bigger boat. Open to fishing all year. Fly-fishing only, barbless hooks required. Catch-and-release for trout. No limit on size or number of warmwater fish. Last updated 12/1/21.

DESCHUTES RIVER, mouth to Pelton Dam: redband trout, whitefish        

Emergency steelhead angling and retention closures on the Deschutes River have been extended into 2022.

Steelhead fishing and retention is closed from the mouth at the westbound I-84 bridge upstream to the Pelton Regulating Reservoir through May 31, 2022.

It was a busy weekend with trout anglers on the lower Deschutes. Golden stoneflies were hatching this weekend and salmon flies will start emerging with warmer temperatures forecasted this week.

Nymph fishing has been excellent and dry fly fishing will pick up as the hatch continues during this warm week ahead. 

There will be no season for spring Chinook on the Deschutes River in 2022 due to another year of predicted poor returns of both hatchery and wild fish. Last updated 5/25/22

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

No recent fishing reports. Open year-round for trout. Artificial flies and lures only. No limit on brown trout. Last updated 3/23/22.

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

The upper Deschutes River reopened to fishing May 22. Last updated 5/25/22.

EAST LAKE: rainbow trout, brown trout, kokanee

Paulina-East Lake Road is open; however, snow covered roads and snowbanks are present around much of East Lake.

ODFW has removed over 11,000 pounds of invasive chub last year, which should reduce competition with trout and kokanee. Open all year to fishing. Last updated 5/25/22.

FALL RIVER: rainbow trout, brown trout

No recent fishing reports. Open to fishing all year. Restricted to fly-fishing with barbless hooks only. Last updated 3/23/22.

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

No recent fishing reports. Haystack Reservoir received several hundred rainbow trout broodstock in January and is set to receive several hundred more the first week of February. These fish provide a rare opportunity for anglers to catch a trophy-size rainbow trout. Last updated 2/2/22.

HOOD RIVER: spring Chinook, winter steelhead, rainbow and cutthroat trout

Spring Chinook fishing is currently open on the Hood River. The Chinook fishery opened April 15 and will be open through June 30 the mouth to mainstem confluence with the East Fork, and the West Fork from the confluence with the mainstem upstream to the angling deadline 200 feet downstream of Punchbowl Falls. The catch limit is one adult hatchery salmon per day and five hatchery jack salmon per day. No reports of Chinook caught yet, but numbers of Chinook in the Hood will increase mid-May.

Spring Chinook fishing generally peaks on the Hood River near the end of May or early June as fish move higher up into the system. Many anglers are successful bobber fishing with eggs in deep pools where springers are holding.

Flows and water visibility are good. Last updated 5/25/22.

HOSMER LAKE: brook, rainbow and cutthroat trout

The Cascade Lakes Hwy is now open. Open to fishing all year. Restricted to fly-fishing only with barbless hooks. Catch-and-release for all species. Last updated 5/25/22.

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

Fishing is off to a good start since the lake opened on March 1. Anglers in the Deschutes arm are seeing bull, brown and rainbow trout, while a few bull trout are being caught in the Metolius arm.

For the remainder of the reservoir, 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 3/16/22.

LAURANCE LAKE: trout

Laurance Lake was stocked on Friday, May 20 with 2,700 legal-sized rainbow trout, that weighed nearly a pound each. Laurance Lake is currently open for fishing, however the lake is not motor-vehicle accessible. There was a washout event, and the Laurance Lake Road will need culvert repair at the Eliot Cr. Crossing. The road is gated at the Middle Fork settling pond but the public can hike into the lake. Last updated 5/25/22.

LAVA LAKE, Big: rainbow trout

The Cascade Lakes Hwy is now open. No recent reports. Open to fishing all year. Last updated 5/25/22.

METOLIUS RIVER: rainbow trout, bull trout

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). Section above Allingham Bridge opened to fishing on May 22.

Artificial flies and lures permitted below Bridge 99 (Lower Bridge). Last updated 5/25/22.

NORTH TWIN LAKE: rainbow trout

Open to fishing all year, expect low water conditions at North and South Twin lakes. Last updated 5/25/22.

OCHOCO RESERVOIR: rainbow trout, black crappie, smallmouth bass

The reservoir is very low at 9 percent. No recent fishing reports. Last updated 1/19/22.

ODELL LAKE: lake trout, kokanee, rainbow trout

Odell Lake opened to fishing on Friday, April 22. Anglers reported fair kokanee fishing jigging and trolling with fish averaging 12-13 inches. Last updated 4/27/22.

Here are some tips on how and where to fish for kokanee:  Kokanee fishing in Oregon: 9 tips for catching kokanee.

PAULINA LAKE: brown trout, rainbow trout, kokanee

Paulina-East Lake Road is open and anglers are reporting good early season kokanee fishing in Paulina Lake. Last updated 5/25/22.

PINE HOLLOW RESERVOIR: rainbow trout, largemouth bass, bluegill

Pine Hollow Reservoir was stocked Monday, April 25 with 3,500 legal-size rainbow and 30 brood fish. Last updated 4/27/22.

PINE NURSERY POND: trout, largemouth bass

Fishing has been slow with fish holding it deeper areas of the pond but should pick up with warming temperatures. Limit is 2 fish per day. Last updated 5/25/22.

PRINEVILLE RESERVOIR: rainbow trout, largemouth and smallmouth bass, crappie

Trout fishing continues to be good near the dam. All boat ramps remain closed due to low water. The reservoir elevation is currently at 3172.83 feet and the lowest boat ramp at Prineville Reservoir State Park requires a minimum of 3191 feet.  Last updated 3/16/22.

SOUTH TWIN LAKE: rainbow trout

Open to fishing all year, expect low water conditions at North and South Twin lakes. Last updated 5/25/22.

SPRAGUE POND: rainbow trout

No recent reports.

Turn at Cow Meadow sign off USFS Rd 40. Take first left at first dirt road and follow road to pond. Last updated 12/15/21.

TAYLOR LAKE (Wasco County): rainbow trout

Taylor Lake was stocked April 19 with 1,500 legal-size fish and 30 brood fish. Algae in the lake is currently limiting visibility. Last updated 5/25/22.

THREE CREEK LAKE: rainbow trout, brook trout

No recent reports. The Three Creek Lake area has received heavy snowfall this winter and roads are not maintained for winter travel. Open to fishing all year. Last updated 1/24/22.

WALTON LAKE: rainbow trout

No recent updates on ice conditions. Last updated 3/16/22.

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

Wickiup Reservoir opened to fishing on Friday, April 22. Anglers should expect to see fewer kokanee this year following recent reservoir drawdowns. With recent cold weather and cool water temperatures, anglers reported slow fishing on opening weekend. The North Wickiup boat ramp currently has sufficient water to launch boats but is anticipated to become dry in the next few weeks. Last updated 4/27/22.