Central Zone
Table of Contents
Recreation Report
Nov. 6, 2024
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
- The Metolius River continues be excellent for mountain whitefish, redband trout and bull trout. The Metolius from Allingham Bridge to the headwaters will close for the season on Nov. 1.
- Anglers report great success catching recently stocked trophy trout averaging 3 pounds in the Fall River.
- Anglers and guides continue to report good nymphing for trout and whitefish on the Crooked River below Bowman Dam.
Trout stocking
Trout stocking will resume in March 2025.
Check out the 2024 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
Crooked River adult steelhead releases
Excess adult steelhead are being released in the Crooked River below Bowman Dam. Remember, all rainbow trout over 20 inches long must be released unharmed. The steelhead will be marked with two green plastic tags by the dorsal fin. Also, some fish will be radio tagged, look for a long, clear antenna that looks like monofilament protruding from the fish's mouth.
If caught, please keep the fish in the water as much as possible and avoid laying the fish on the bank. The fish should be handled as little as possible and the tags left intact. Please report when and where the fish were caught to either the Bend (541-388-6363) or Prineville ODFW offices (541-447-5111).
E-taggers: Update your app
ODFW's Electronic Licensing System (ELS) and the MyODFW companion app got a major update on Monday, Sept. 30. Be sure to visit the Apple App Store or Google Play Store on your phone and update your MyODFW app to version 4.0.
Walton Lake closure
The U.S. Forest Service has closed public access to Walton Lake through May 9, 2025. Effective Oct. 7 2024 anglers will no longer be able to access Walton Lake For more information visit the Ochoco NF website.
Winter Road Closures
The Deschutes County Road Department, in partnership with the U. S. Forest Service (USFS), will close Cascade Lakes Highway and Paulina Lake Road at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 19. Please note: The roadways may be closed earlier if there are significant weather events before Nov. 19. You can check the Road Department website for updates. Forest Service Road 16 which provides vehicle access to Three Creeks Lake will close for the year Nov. 6, 2024.
Whisky Creek Fire - Mt. Hood National Forest
Access to Whatum Lake, Scout Lake, Rainy Lake, Black Lake, Bear Lake, and Warren Lake trailhead is closed due to an active wildfire.
Fish consumption advisories
The Oregon Health Authority has issued consumption guidelines for parts of the Columbia River due to high levels of mercury and/or PCBs. Fish with these chemicals look, act, smell and taste like any other fish, so caution is important.
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
Recent fish inventory showed fewer numbers but nice healthy rainbow trout averaging 12-18 inches. Last updated 4/24/24.
BIKINI POND: trout
The fall stocking at Bikini Pond is scheduled for this week. 650 legal-sized trout will be stocked. Last updated 9/25/24.
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 will close to fishing on Oct. 31 and reopen April 22, 2025.
Bass fishing has been reported as good. Last updated 10/30/24.
CRESCENT LAKE: rainbow trout, brown trout, lake trout and kokanee
The area surrounding Crescent Lake has reopened to public access following the Red Fire. Open to fishing all year.
Crescent Lake is currently 11 percent full and access to the lake may be limited by low water levels. Anglers also report decent kokanee fishing with most fish in the 11– to 12-inch range. One lake trout per day, 24-inch minimum length. Anglers can now keep 5 kokanee in addition to daily trout limit. Last updated 10/30/24.
CROOKED RIVER: trout, whitefish
Open to fishing all year below Bowman Dam. The Crooked continues to fish well through the fall months. Anglers should expect outflow from Bowman Dam to be held at 100 cfs during the winter irrigation storage season. Nymphing has been the most effective method, but fly-anglers should keep an eye out for fishing rising in afternoon. Try blue wing olive or midge patterns.
Anglers are reminded that steelhead may be present in the Crooked River and that Rainbow trout over 20 inches are considered steelhead and must be immediately released, unharmed.
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 10/30/24.
DAVIS LAKE: largemouth bass, rainbow trout
Open to fishing all year. Anglers report good bass fishing along the reeds and trolling a fly along the lava flow. Davis Lake water level remains low, making launching boats difficult The Lava Flow Campground remains the only access point for boats.
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 8/14/24.
DESCHUTES RIVER, mouth to Pelton Dam: fall Chinook, coho, steelhead, redband trout, whitefish
Steelhead fishing has been good over the past few weeks on the Deschutes. The Deschutes below White Rive has stayed clear and fishable. There have been many steelhead in the creel lately and particularly wild fish. If you catch a wild steelhead, practice good catch-and-release technique, keep fish wet, and release all wild fish unharmed.
Salmon fishing at Sherars has slowed down a little over the past week. There are still bright coho in the system. Some of the fall Chinook are getting dark as they are getting closer to spawning.
Not as many trout anglers this time of year, but nymphing has still been good up between Warm Springs and Maupin. Last updated 10/16/24.
DESCHUTES RIVER, Lake Billy Chinook to Benham Falls: rainbow trout, brown trout, whitefish
Open to fishing all year. Anglers report good fishing around Dillon Falls, upstream of the Old Mill area in Bend and around Tumalo State Park. Nymphing has been the most effective method. Last updated 11/6/24.
DESCHUTES RIVER, Benham Falls to Little Lava Lake: rainbow trout, brown trout
The Deschutes River upstream of Benham Falls closed for the year on Sept. 30, 2024. Last update 10/2/24.
EAST LAKE: rainbow trout, brown trout, kokanee
Anglers report good brown trout fishing from the bank along the southwest shoreline. Low water levels continue to make launching large boats challenging. Forest Service facilities including docks and bathrooms have been winterized for the year at East Lake.
Anglers can now keep 5 kokanee in addition to daily trout limit. Last updated 10/30/24.
FALL RIVER: rainbow trout, brown trout
Following recent trophy trout stockings, fly-anglers continue to report excellent and consistent fishing in the Fall River. Nymphing and stripping small streamers have been the most effective methods.
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. ODFW staff have noticed an increase in lures being used in Fall River and remind anglers that the use of lures and bait is prohibited. Last updated 10/16/24.
HAYSTACK RESERVOIR: rainbow trout, kokanee, black crappie, bluegill, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, brown bullhead
Haystack is currently at 88 percent full. The boat ramps at the campgrounds on the east and west side of the reservoir may be closing soon. Check with the Ochoco National Forest for the east side campground and Crook County Parks and Rec for the west side campground. The parking lot near the handicap fishing pier remains open year-round.
Following draining of Haystack Reservoir for maintenance, anglers should expect slow fishing as the reservoir is restocked and fish populations rebound. Last updated 11/6/24.
HOOD RIVER: Steelhead, rainbow and cutthroat trout
No recent reports. There have been a few anglers out salmon or steelhead fishing at the mouth of the Hood. The Hood is open for hatchery coho and hatchery steelhead retention year-round, but Chinook retention is only open in the spring. Last updated 9/24/24.
HOSMER LAKE: brook, rainbow and cutthroat trout
Hosmer Lake is open to fishing all year. Recent reports of excellent fall fishing for brook and rainbow trout. Restricted to fly-fishing only with barbless hooks. Catch-and-release for all species. Last updated 10/16/24.
LAKE BILLY CHINOOK: bull, brown and rainbow trout, kokanee, smallmouth bass
Anglers continue to report good fishing. The Metolius Arm will be closing soon at the end of October.
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 10/23/24.
LAURANCE LAKE: rainbow trout
Laurance Lake closes to angling on Nov. 1, and anglers have been enjoying the last few weeks of fall fishing at the lake. Fly-anglers have been consistently catching hatchery rainbow trout. Fishing boundary buoys are deployed near the mouth of Pinnacle Creek and Clear Branch to indicate the fishing closure. The buoys have been adjusting over irrigation season as the reservoir pool has been lowered.
Anglers might catch more bull trout at Laurance this time of year. If you catch a bull trout, practice good catch-and-release techniques, keep the fish wet, and release all bull trout unharmed. Last updated 10/9/24.
LAVA LAKE, Big: rainbow trout
Open to fishing all year. Anglers report good fishing for rainbow trout. Last updated 5/22/24.
METOLIUS RIVER: rainbow trout, bull trout
The Metolius River continues to be excellent for mountain whitefish, redband trout, and bull trout. Nymphing with stonefly, mayfly or caddisfly nymphs has been effective for trout and streamers are a good bet for bull trout.
More bull trout will enter the river from Lake Billy Chinook as the spawning peaks in September and as bull trout follow spawning kokanee in October. 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, 2025.
Artificial flies and lures permitted below Bridge 99 (Lower Bridge). Last updated 10/30/24.
NORTH TWIN LAKE: rainbow trout
Open to fishing all year. Recent reports from North Twin of excellent fishing for holdover and recently stocked trout. North and South Twin were last stocked in September. Last updated 10/16/24.
OCHOCO RESERVOIR: rainbow trout, black crappie, smallmouth bass
The reservoir is 51 percent full and shouldn't change much over the winter as irrigation has ended for the year. Recent reports of good rainbow trout fishing and large fish from the bank near Ochoco Dam. Last updated 10/23/24.
ODELL LAKE: lake trout, kokanee, rainbow trout
Odell Lake will close to fishing on Oct. 31 and will reopen April 22, 2025. Last updated 10/30/24.
PAULINA LAKE: brown trout, rainbow trout, kokanee
Open to fishing all year. Forest Service facilities including docks and bathrooms have been winterized for the year at Paulina Lake. Anglers report productive rainbow and brown trout fishing with some brown trout in the 6- to 8-pound range caught in recent weeks. Anglers can now keep 5 kokanee in addition to daily trout limit. Last updated 10/9/24.
PINE HOLLOW RESERVOIR: rainbow trout, largemouth bass, bluegill
The fall stocking at Pine Hollow is scheduled for this week. About 1,600 legal size trout and 375 trophy trout are scheduled to be stocked. Last updated 9/25/24.
PINE NURSERY POND: trout, largemouth bass
Open to fishing all year. No recent fishing reports. Limit is 2 fish per day. Last updated 12/13/23.
PRINEVILLE RESERVOIR: rainbow trout, largemouth and smallmouth bass, crappie
Prineville Reservoir at 55 percent full. Anglers report fair fishing for trout, crappie and bass. Last updated 11/6/24.
SOUTH TWIN LAKE: rainbow trout
Open to fishing all year. Anglers continue to report productive fishing for holdover and recently stocked trout. North and South Twin were last stocked in mid-April. Last updated 5/29/24.
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
The fall stocking at Taylor Lake is scheduled for this week. About 1,600 legal-size trout and 600 trophy trout are scheduled to be stocked. Last updated 9/25/24.
THREE CREEK LAKE: rainbow trout, brook trout
Forest Service Road 16 which provides vehicle access to Three Creeks Lake, will close for the year on Nov. 6, 2024. Open to fishing all year. Last updated 11/6/24.
WALTON LAKE: rainbow trout
The U.S. Forest Service has closed public access to Walton Lake through May 9, 2025. For more information visit the Ochoco NF website. Last updated 10/9/24.
WICKIUP RESERVOIR: kokanee, brown trout, rainbow trout, largemouth bass
Wickiup Reservoir will close to fishing on Oct. 31 and will reopen April 22, 2025.
The Deschutes River Arm from the Gull Point Boat Ramp to the ODFW makers near Sheeps Bridge is closed from Sept 1 through April 21, annually, to protect spawning kokanee. A reminder that Deschutes River regulations (May 22 opener) apply upstream of the markers near Sheeps Bridge. Last updated 10/30/24.
Regulation Updates
Please see the regulation update page.