Central Zone

Attention anglers – we want your photos!

Whether you’re out after trout or bass, steelhead or salmon, surfperch or rockfish, we’d love to see photos of your adventure. When you submit your photos to ODFW they could appear on our website or signs, or in social or brochures. What a great way to share your experience with others!

Photo submission form

Weekend Fishing Opportunities:

• Steelhead are spread out in the lower Deschutes as far upriver as South Junction. Fishing should pick up soon in the North Junction, South Junction and Warm Springs areas.
• Fall can be some of the best trout fishing of the year in the area’s lakes and reservoirs.
• It won’t be long before snow will limit access to central Oregon’s high elevation, hike-in lakes. Until then fish will be feeding aggressively as they get ready for the winter, and fishing can be good.
• Prineville Youth Fishing Pond, Pinehollow Reservoir and Taylor Lake are scheduled to be stocked this week.

2019 STOCKING SCHEDULE AND STOCKING MAP

ANTELOPE FLAT RESERVOIR: rainbow trout

Fall sampling revealed excellent numbers of fish ranging from 8- to 16-inches with most averaging 12-inches. The majority of fish were caught within 40 feet from the bank.  The water level is excellent for this time of year, only about 10 feet below the paved portion of the ramp.

BIKINI POND: rainbow trout

The pond has been stocked and fishing has been good.

CENTURY GRAVEL POND: rainbow trout

The pond is located ¼ mile west of the junction of USFS Rd 46 (Century Drive) and USFS Rd 4635.

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

The reservoir closes to fishing beginning Nov. 1. Wild (unmarked) rainbow must be released.

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

Open to fishing all year. One lake trout per day, 24-inch minimum length.

CROOKED RIVER: redband trout, mountain whitefish

Opportunities continue to be excellent for 10- to 16-inch trout and whitefish. Nymph patterns are effective throughout the day, while dry flies are catching fish during evening hatches.

Flows will decrease slightly as the end of irrigation season nears with a goal of around 100 cfs throughout the winter.

CULTUS LAKE, Big: rainbow trout, lake trout

Open to fishing all year.

DAVIS LAKE: largemouth bass, rainbow trout

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.

DESCHUTES RIVER, MOUTH TO THE PELTON REGULATING DAM: steelhead, fall Chinook, redband trout, whitefish  

Steelhead fishing has been fair from the mouth upstream to Maupin. Fish are spread out as far upriver as South Junction. Fishing should pick up soon in the North Junction, South Junction and Warm Springs areas.

Fall chinook and coho fishing has been fair in the Sherars Falls area. Anglers are reminded that angling for fall chinook closes on October 31.

Trout fishing has been good this year throughout the river. Good fishing should continue,

especially from Maupin to Warm Springs.

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.

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

With the end of the irrigation season, look for the water to be high below Bend. Open year-round for trout. Artificial flies and lures only. No limit on brown trout.

Benham Falls upstream to Little Lava Lake: rainbow trout

Closed to fishing until April 22, 2020.

DEVILS LAKE: rainbow trout

Open to fishing all year.

EAST LAKE: rainbow trout, brown trout, kokanee

Fall fishing in the lake should be good until the snow gates are locked. Open all year to fishing. Wild (unmarked) rainbow trout must be released.

ELK LAKE: brook trout, kokanee, cutthroat trout

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, brown trout

Open to fishing all year. Restricted to fly-fishing with barbless hooks only.

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

Fishing should be good for warmwater fish and slow for stocked trout.

HOOD RIVER: steelhead

Steelhead fishing has been slow. Anglers should expect a few bright winter steelhead to start showing up in December.

HOSMER LAKE: brook, rainbow and cutthroat trout

Open to fishing all year. Restricted to fly-fishing only with barbless hooks. Catch-and-release for all species.

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

Bull trout fishing has been poor throughout the entire reservoir. Kokanee fishing has been good in the Metolius Arm and fair in the Deschutes and Crooked arms. Bass fishing has been great along the Crooked and Deschutes arms, but fair in 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.

LAKE SIMTUSTUS: bull trout, rainbow trout, smallmouth bass

No recent fishing reports. A tribal permit is required.

LAURANCE LAKE: trout

No recent reports, but fishing for trout should be decent. Fly-anglers with float tubes or kick boats usually do the best. The reservoir level is low. The reservoir closes to fishing Oct. 31.

LAVA LAKE, Big: rainbow trout

Open to fishing all year.

LAVA LAKE, Little: rainbow trout, brook trout

Open to fishing all year.

METOLIUS POND: trout

Pond is closed to fishing until May 1, 2020

METOLIUS RIVER: rainbow trout, 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). No bait allowed.

NORTH TWIN LAKE: rainbow trout

The lake was stocked several times over the summer, and there should be some holdover fish available for fall fishing. Open to fishing all year.  

OCHOCO CREEK UPSTREAM TO OCHOCO DAM: rainbow trout

Elm Street bridge will be replaced starting the week of July 8 so anglers should avoid that area. 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

Fall sampling revealed excellent numbers and size of bass. Good numbers of trout up to 18 inches long.

ODELL CREEK: rainbow trout

Catch-and-release for trout. Odell Creek is defined as boat ramp at West Davis Lake campground upstream to Odell Lake.

ODELL LAKE: lake trout, kokanee, rainbow trout

Odell Lake will be closed to fishing beginning Nov. 1. Twenty-five kokanee per day in addition to daily trout limit. Kokanee tend to be smaller this year due to high abundance. No size limits on kokanee. Bull trout must be released unharmed. All tributaries to Odell Lake are closed to fishing.

PAULINA LAKE: brown trout, rainbow trout, kokanee

Open all year to fishing. Wild (unmarked) rainbow trout must be released.

PINE NURSERY POND: trout, largemouth bass

Limit is 2 fish per day.

PINEHOLLOW RESERVOIR: rainbow trout, largemouth bass, bluegill

No recent reports, but fishing should still be good from the most recent stocking. Water levels are low. Both boat ramps are currently closed.

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

Bass and crappie fishing has been good.

PRINEVILLE YOUTH FISHING POND: rainbow trout and largemouth bass

The pond was stocked with trout this week.

Bullhead catfish have recently been discovered in the pond. Catfish will not count towards the 2 fish bag limit as these unwanted fish need to be removed.

ROCK CREEK RESERVOIR: rainbow trout

No recent reports.

SHEVLIN YOUTH FISHING POND: rainbow trout

Open to youth only (17 years and under) and disabled anglers. Limit is two fish per day.

SOUTH TWIN LAKE: rainbow trout

The lake was stocked several times over the summer, and there should be some holdover fish available for fall fishing. Open to fishing all year.  

SPARKS LAKE: cutthroat trout, brook trout

Open to fishing all year. Fly-fishing only, barbless hooks required.

SPRAGUE POND: rainbow trout

Turn at Cow Meadow sign off USFS Rd 40. Take first left at first dirt road and follow road to pond.

SUTTLE LAKE: brown trout, kokanee

Open to fishing all year. Bull trout must be released unharmed. Twenty-five kokanee per day in addition to daily trout limit. No size limits on kokanee. Please call ODFW @ 541-388-6145 to report any small mouth bass caught.

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

No recent reports. Taylor is a good spot for big largemouth bass. Trout fishing should be picking up soon.

THREE CREEK LAKE: rainbow trout, brook trout

Open to fishing all year.

TODD LAKE: rainbow trout, brook trout

Open to fishing all year.

WALTON LAKE: rainbow trout

No recent fishing reports.

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

The reservoir will be closed to fishing beginning Nov. 1. Five kokanee per day in addition to daily trout limit. No size limits on kokanee.

The Deschutes River Arm is closed from ODFW marker at Gull Point to ODFW markers ½ mile upstream of Sheep’s Bridge from Sept. 1 to April 21.