Recreation Report
Central Zone
Recreation Report
Nov. 29, 2023
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
- Anglers report good winter trout fishing on the Deschutes upstream of Bend.
- Catch-and-release fishing for trout has been productive on the Metolius River, note that the Metolius upstream of Allingham Bridge to the headwaters closed for the season on Nov. 1.
- Anglers continue to report good and consistent fishing on the Crooked River below Bowman Dam.
- Trout fishing has been excellent on North and South Twin lakes.
- Trout and steelhead fishing has been good on the Deschutes from Maupin to Mecca Flat.
Recently stocked
Scheduled to be stocked this week: No stocking scheduled.
Recently stocked: Taylor Lake, Pine Hollow Reservoir, Bikini Pond
Check out the 2023 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
Road Closures
The Cascade Lakes Hwy and Paulina Lake Rd closed for the winter on Nov. 21.
E-tagging tips for anglers
It's important for anglers to tag their salmon and steelhead immediately, which means you'll need to know how to navigate the MyODFW app outside of cell phone range. Here are some tips for e-tagging in the field.
Parasitic Copepods in the Twin lakes
Anglers have been reporting rainbow trout with heavy parasite loads of the common parasitic copepod, Salmincola californiensis in North and South Twin lakes this summer. There are no health concerns with consuming fish with these copepods. They are typically attached to the gills, fins, and skin of the fish and are usually not present in filets. This ODFW webpage shows common fish diseases and parasites including the copepod.
Boulder Fire, Mt. Hood National Forest
Due to the Boulder Fire in the Mt. Hood National Forest, access to Boulder Lake (Big and Little), Jean Lake and Badger Lake is currently closed.
Sign up for the latest information on boater access
Marine Board's Opportunities and Access Report incorporates information from federal and state agencies, local facility operators and fellow boaters to provide up-to-date information so boaters can decide where to recreate and what to expect this season. Subscribe to receive email updates.
Updates by waterbody
ANTELOPE FLAT RESERVOIR: rainbow trout
No recent fishing reports. Last updated 11/8/23.
BIKINI POND: trout
Oak Springs hatchery had some surplus trout, so Bikini Pond is getting another fall stocking the week of Oct. 30. There will be 600 legal-size fish and about 100 1-pound fish stocked. Last updated 11/1/23.
CENTURY GRAVEL POND: rainbow trout
Century Pond was stocked with rainbow trout in mid-May. The pond is located ¼ mile west of the junction of USFS Rd 46 (Century Drive) and USFS Rd 4635. Last updated 5/24/23.
CRANE PRAIRIE RESERVOIR: rainbow trout, brook trout, largemouth bass, kokanee
Crane Prairie closed for the season Nov. 1 and will reopen April 22, 2024. Last updated 11/1/23.
CRESCENT LAKE: rainbow trout, brown trout, lake trout and kokanee
Open to fishing all year. Crescent Lake is currently 7 percent full. One lake trout per day, 24-inch minimum length. Last updated 9/13/23.
CROOKED RIVER: trout, whitefish
Post-irrigation season flows in the Crooked River below Bowman Dam will be maintained at 100 cfs for the winter.
Open to fishing all year below Bowman Dam. Anglers report good fishing below Bowman Dam. Anglers are reminded that steelhead are now being passed around the Pelton Round Butte Hydro Project Dam and may be present in the Crooked River over the winter months. Rainbow trout over 20 inches are considered steelhead and must be released.
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 11/29/23.
DAVIS LAKE: largemouth bass, rainbow trout
Open to fishing all year. Davis Lake water level remains low, making launching boats difficult. Fly-fishing only, barbless hooks required. Catch-and-release for trout. No limit on size or number of warmwater fish. Davis Lake anglers may encounter bull trout which must be immediately released unharmed. Last updated 5/24/23.
DESCHUTES RIVER, mouth to Pelton Dam: steelhead, coho, redband trout, whitefish
Anglers have been reporting good trout fishing lately between Warm Springs, Mecca, Trout Creek and Maupin.
Fall chinook retention closesd on Nov. 1. Coho salmon retention remains open on the Deschutes until Jan. 1. There are still bright coho in the Deschutes during November. Most of the coho on the Deschutes go into the Warm Springs River, so coho anglers will probably have the best luck below the Trout Creek area.
Steelhead fishing has been picking up above Maupin as fish move upriver. Steelhead fishing can also still be quite good near the mouth of the Deschutes in the late fall.
If you harvest a steelhead with an external orange tag that reads "ODFW THE DALLES" please call 541-296-4628 to report the tag or fill out this form online. If you catch a wild steelhead with an orange tag, please leave the tag in place and release the fish unharmed. These tags are a part of the annual lower Deschutes mark-recapture population estimates conducted by ODFW.
A reminder the Warm Springs Fishing permit access from Dry Creek to Trout Creek closed on Oct. 31. Fishing is still open east of the main channel and on the east bank of this section. Click here for more information about CTWS Fishing Permits.
The Deschutes Steelhead Fishery Framework was established in 2021 and defines standards for opening or closing the steelhead sport fishery. Based on counts of wild steelhead over Bonneville Dam, steelhead fishing will remain open on the Deschutes River in 2023. Last updated 11/8/23.
DESCHUTES RIVER, Lake Billy Chinook to Benham Falls: rainbow trout, brown trout, whitefish
Open to fishing all year. Anglers report good winter fishing upstream of the Old Mill area in Bend and around Steelhead Falls. Nymphing has been the most effective method. Last updated 11/29/23.
DESCHUTES RIVER, Benham Falls to Little Lava Lake: rainbow trout, brown trout
The Deschutes River upstream of Benham Falls closed for the season on Sept. 30 and will reopen May 22, 2024.
EAST LAKE: rainbow trout, brown trout, kokanee
The Paulina Lake Road closed for the winter on Nov. 21. Anglers continue to report good trout fishing, but low lake levels make it difficult to launch larger boats. Last updated 11/29/23.
FALL RIVER: rainbow trout, brown trout
Fly-anglers report excellent autumn fishing in the Fall River. Nymphing has been the most effective method. The river was last stocked in early September.
A reminder to anglers that new regulations are in effect for Fall River and the river is now closed to fishing below Fall River Falls Oct. 1 through May 21. Fall River above Fall River Falls remains open year-round. Restricted to fly-fishing with barbless hooks only. Last updated 10/4/23.
HAYSTACK RESERVOIR: rainbow trout, kokanee, black crappie, bluegill, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, brown bullhead
Following draining of Haystack Reservoir for maintenance, anglers should expect slow fishing as the reservoir is restocked and fish populations rebound. Last updated 7/12/23.
HOOD RIVER: Hatchery coho, hatchery steelhead, rainbow, and cutthroat trout
No recent fishing reports. Last updated 10/4/23.
HOSMER LAKE: brook, rainbow and cutthroat trout
The Cascade Lakes Highway closed for the winter on Nov. 21. Open to fishing all year. Anglers continue to report good brook, cutthroat and rainbow trout fishing. Restricted to fly-fishing only with barbless hooks. Catch-and-release for all species. Last updated 11/29/23.
LAKE BILLY CHINOOK: bull, brown and rainbow trout, kokanee, smallmouth bass
Anglers report fair kokanee, bass, and bull trout fishing. Tribal fishing permits are required for 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. Last updated 9/13/23.
LAURANCE LAKE: rainbow trout
Closed for the season. Access to Laurance Lake is also currently closed due to a washout at the Eliot Branch crossing. Laurance will re-open on April 22, 2024. Last updated 11/8/23.
LAVA LAKE, Big: rainbow trout
The Cascade Lakes Highway closed for the winter on Nov. 21. Open to fishing all year. Anglers report good fishing for rainbow trout. Last updated 11/29/23.
METOLIUS RIVER: rainbow trout, bull trout
The Metolius River continues to fish well. Nymphing with stonefly, mayfly or caddisfly nymphs has been effective for trout and streamers are a good bet for bull trout. Following the fall kokanee spawn, egg patterns can be effective. Catch-and-release for trout including bull trout. Fishing is restricted to fly-fishing only upstream of Bridge 99 (Lower Bridge).
The Metolius River from Allingham Bridge upstream to the headwaters closed for the season Nov. 1 and will reopen May 22, 2024.
Artificial flies and lures permitted below Bridge 99 (Lower Bridge). Last updated 11/15/23.
NORTH TWIN LAKE: rainbow trout
Open to fishing all year. Anglers continue to report excellent fishing for stocked trout. North and South Twin were last stocked with trophy trout in early September. Last updated 11/29/23.
OCHOCO RESERVOIR: rainbow trout, black crappie, smallmouth bass
The reservoir is 31 percent full. Recent reports of excellent rainbow trout fishing near Ochoco Dam. Last updated 11/29/23.
ODELL LAKE: lake trout, kokanee, rainbow trout
Closed for the season Nov. 1 and will reopen April 22, 2024. Last updated 11/1/23.
PAULINA LAKE: brown trout, rainbow trout, kokanee
The Paulina Lake Road closed for the winter on Nov. 21. Open to fishing all year. Anglers continue to report good rainbow and brown trout fishing. Last updated 11/15/23.
PINE HOLLOW RESERVOIR: rainbow trout, largemouth bass, bluegill
Pine Hollow was stocked Nov. 6 with 3,000 legal-size trout. Anglers reported good fishing at Pine Hollow with quick limits over the weekend. Last updated 11/8/23.
PINE NURSERY POND: trout, largemouth bass
Open to fishing all year. No recent fishing reports. Limit is 2 fish per day. Last updated 7/19/23.
PRINEVILLE RESERVOIR: rainbow trout, largemouth and smallmouth bass, crappie
Prineville Reservoir at 58 percent full. Anglers report fair fishing for trout, crappie and bass. Currently experiencing an algae bloom. Last updated 11/29/23.
SOUTH TWIN LAKE: rainbow trout
Open to fishing all year. Anglers continue to report good fishing for stocked trout. North and South Twin were last stocked with trophy trout in early September. Last updated 9/13/23.
SPRAGUE POND: rainbow trout
Sprague Pond was stocked in mid-May.
Turn at Cow Meadow sign off USFS Rd 40. Take first left at first dirt road and follow road to pond. Last updated 5/24/23.
TAYLOR LAKE (Wasco County): rainbow trout
Taylor Lake was stocked on Oct. 30 with 3,100 legal-size trout and 800 trophy trout. Despite the recent stocking, anglers have reported slow fishing at Taylor over the past week. Last updated 11/823.
THREE CREEK LAKE: rainbow trout, brook trout
Open to fishing all year; however, Forest Service Rd 16 is closed seasonally. Three Creeks Lake was stocked in August. Last updated 11/29/23.
WALTON LAKE: rainbow trout
No recent fishing reports. Last updated 11/8/23.
WICKIUP RESERVOIR: kokanee, brown trout, rainbow trout, largemouth bass
Wickiup Reservoir closed for the season Nov. 1 and will reopen April 22, 2024.
The Deschutes River Arm from the boat ramp at Gull Point Campground to the ODFW Markers just upstream of Sheeps Bridge closed for the season on Sept. 1 to protect spawning fish. Last updated 11/1/23.
