Welcome to the 2012
Spring Fishing Guide

Central Zone

Central Zone (pdf)

Check this out:

• South Twin Lake was treated in 2011 to remove bullhead catfish and sticklebacks and fishing has been EXCELLENT so far in 2012.

• Crane Prairie could have a million dollar trout – part of Cabela’s Wanna Go Fishing for Millions contest. For more details and to register.

• 2012 Family Fishing and Free Fishing Weekend events.

• Spring chinook fishing on the Deschutes and Hood rivers opened April 15. Get the details here.

• Easy Angling Central Oregon lists 11 family-friendly places to go fishing in the Bend/Remond/Prineville area.

• Take a friend fishing during Free Fishing Weekend June 9-10 – no license required!

TROUT

Redband Trout -Oregon Dept. of Fish & Wildlife -

Most rivers and streams open for trout fishing on May 26, though several notable rivers are open to trout fishing year-round including the lower Deschutes, Crooked, Fall and Metolius. The section of the Deschutes River from the northern boundary of the Warm Springs Reservation to the Pelton Regulating Dam open for trout on April 28.Rivers and streams are no longer stocked and most trout fishing will be for native rainbow trout commonly called redbands.

The Central Zone Stream Regulations allow the harvest of two trout per day, flies and lures only. Streams where bait is allowed are noted specifically in the Special Regulations for that water body. Anglers should consult the 2011 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations for any special regulations, and ODFW’s web site for any changes or updates on regulations as the season progresses.

Trout stocking in lakes and reservoirs usually begins shortly after snowmelt. Consult the trout stocking schedule to see what water body is being stocked when. The Upper Deschutes River and Crooked River sub-basin received 70-80 percent of their average annual snowpack and slightly are below normal for overall precipitation, while streams draining Mt. Hood have received average, or slightly better than average snowpack. Most area reservoirs are filled this year.

Fishing for brook and brown trout should be good early in the season. Fishing for rainbow trout and kokanee is expected to be fair to good, improving as water temperatures begin warming.

Thoughout the season, you can call the Deschutes National Forest or local lake resorts for current updates on road and lake conditions.

Summer steelhead on the Deschutes -Photo by Bob Hooton-

SALMON AND STEELHEAD

Summer steelhead usually begin to enter the Hood and Deschutes rivers in July with the run usually peaking in September. There is excellent bank access on both rivers, and the Deschutes offers a variety of floats from one to several days long. The Hood River also gets a small run of winter steelhead, usually peaking in early April. 

Spring Chinook seasons have been authorized for both the Hood and Deschutes rivers.  Both rivers open on April 15, with peak of the run generally occurring in early May in the Deschutes, and late May in Hood River.  These popular fisheries offer a bank-bound angler one of their best changes for catching and landing a famed Columbia River spring chinook. Check the ODFW site for season details.

Large-mouth Bass -U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service-

WARMWATER

The Central Zone offers a variety of warmwater angling opportunities in a variety of settings: trophy bass in high Cascade lakes (Davis Lake and Crane Prairie Reservoir) to crappie and catfish in juniper-sagebrush surrounded reservoirs (Prineville and Haystack Reservoirs). Fishing for bass, panfish, and crappie is best during the spring when they are moving into shallow water to spawn, the timing of which is largely determined by water temperatures reaching 50oF.

Bass and crappie fishing generally slows down following spawning as the fish disperse to deeper water, although the schooling nature of crappie makes them easier to find and fish for during the summer (usually jigging for them in water up to 30-35 feet deep). Fishing for catfish during evenings and at night starts picking up about the time when bass and crappie have finished spawning, continues to improve as water temperatures warm and remains fairly consistent until the water begins to cool in the fall.

Alphabetical listing:

Antelope Flat Reservoir:    Open to year-round fishing, but access may be limited by snow or mud. Treatments in 2009 to remove brown bullhead were successful and trout fishing has been excellent since. There is an unimproved boat ramp for small to medium-sized boats; however, this is often not operational by late summer. Camping opportunities are available at a managed Ochoco National Forest campground.

Contact the USFS Prineville Ranger District for more information regarding road conditions and access.  The reservoir is located in the Maury Mountains approximately 30 miles east of Prineville, but is also accessible off of Highway 20 E from Bend.

Bend Pine Nursery Pond: The pond is stocked with rainbow trout in the spring and summer months; bass and bluegill are present throughout the year. The pond is located in the old Bend Pine Nursery off of Purcell Blvd. The pond is open to all licensed anglers and there is a two fish daily limit.

Big Lava Lake:  Big Lava Lake is always a solid bet for nice rainbow trout. Most fish will run 10 to 13-inches long, with some fish in the 14 to 16-inch range, and an occasional fish up to 20 inches and larger. Big Lava is a great lake for boat anglers and anglers using smaller pontoon craft or other floatation devices. There is also some great shoreline fishing opportunity. Big Lava is stocked annually in early spring with 100,000 fingerling trout. These fish grow quickly throughout the summer and a number of them will be legal-sized by summers end.

Cutthroat Trout -Photo by Charlotte Ganskopp-

Cascade Mountain Lakes:  These small, high lakes offer excellent fishing opportunities for brook trout, some rainbow trout and some cutthroat trout. Many of these lakes see very few visitors during the summer months. These lakes are open to fishing all year, but check on access into higher elevation areas before venturing into these isolated areas. Anglers looking for access information on lakes within the Mt. Hood National Forest should contact either the Hood River Hood River Ranger District at 541-352-6002 or the Dufur Ranger District at 541-467-2291.

Clear Lake and Frog Lake:  These lakes are open to fishing all year. These two lakes are located east of Government Camp, and are easily accessed from Highway 26. The lakes will be stocked with both legal-sized and trophy rainbow trout as soon as access allows. Contact the Mt. Hood National Forest Hood River Ranger District at 541-352-6002 for access and camping information.

Frog Lake provides good fishing throughout the summer, while Clear Lake (actually an irrigation storage reservoir) usually provides the best fishing opportunity early in the season before low water conditions prevail during the summer.

Rainbow Trout - Oregon Fish and Wildlife-

Crane Prairie Reservoir:  Crane Prairie Reservoir offers great fishing for rainbow trout, brook trout and warmwater fish; however, population surveys suggest the lake is dominated by rainbow trout. Good numbers of wild and hatchery rainbow trout are available. Hatchery fish are 100 percent marked with an adipose fin clip, so please voluntarily limit your harvest of wild trout to protect this fishery. Please note the five fish daily trout bag may include only one non-fin-clipped rainbow trout.

The reservoir is close to 100 percent of capacity. Anglers should expect fish to be scattered early in the season and should target shallow water areas for best early season success. Large numbers of brook trout are available, and the best brook trout fishing is early and late in the season. Fish for brook trout at dawn and dusk with flies, lures, and bait. Anglers after bigger brook trout should cast their fly, lure or bait close to cover such as submerged logs or undercut banks. Once you hook your brook trout head for open water as they are notorious for tangling the angler’s line around logs and rocks.

Crane Prairie offers good largemouth bass fishing opportunities. Opportunities for largemouth should improve as water temperatures increase; target willow areas early in the season. Contact the Deschutes National Forest or Crane Prairie Resort for up to date conditions. Crane Prairie is located off of the Cascade Lakes Highway (Forest Service Road 46) and is easily accessible from Bend and Sunriver. 

Crane Prairie has been with a tagged rainbow trout that could be worth $1 million as part of Cabela’s Wanna Go Fishing for Millions contest. Go to the Cabela’s website for details.

Crescent Lake:  Open year-round for fishing and is currently boat accessible. Kokanee fishing is predicted to be good this year, though it may be slow early in the season with improved catches expected in May and June. Crescent Lake is located off of Highway 58, east of Willamette Pass.

Crooked River, Chimney Rock Segment of Wild and Scenic, below Bowman Dam:  Fishing should be good for redband trout through 2012 if the river does not experience excessively high flows for a long period of time. Anglers should also take advantage of the opportunity to catch very large whitefish. River levels should be approximately 250 CFS throughout the spring and summer months. Daily bag limit is two trout per day with an 8 inch minimum length and only 1 trout over 20 inches. The first significant return of steelhead and chinook salmon adults is expected this year.  The release of steelhead adults is encouraged and the harvest of chinook salmon is not permitted.  Use of bait is permitted May 26 through Oct. 31. The balance of the year is restricted to flies and lures only. Numerous overnight and day use areas are available on BLM lands. The Chimney Rock Segment of the Crooked River Wild and Scenic is located approximately 15 minutes south of Prineville on Highway 27, but is also accessible from Bend on the Alfalfa Highway.

A sample of redband trout and mountain whitefish are tagged with a numbered floy tag protruding from the back. Anglers who later catch a trout or whitefish with a floy tag are encouraged to release the fish after recording the tag number and color, fish length and location caught. Anglers can relay the information to ODFW at (541) 447-5111 ext. 24.

Cultus Lake:  Cultus Lake is open year-round, providing a good early season lake trout fishery. There is also fair opportunity for anglers targeting rainbow trout. Cultus Lake is located off of the Cascade Lakes Highway near Crane Praire reservoir and is easily accessible from Bend and Sun River.

Bull Trout -Washington Fish & Wildlife -

Davis Lake:  Lake levels are much higher than normal but trout fishing is still expected to be fair through the early part of the season and again late in the season. Numbers of rainbow trout are still reduced as a result of competition and predation from illegally introduced largemouth bass. Davis Lake is fly fishing only with a bag limit of two trout per day between 10 and 13 inches.

Davis Lake also provides good opportunity for largemouth bass. Anglers fishing for largemouth bass in Davis Lake are restricted to fly fishing only using barbless flies. There is no limit on the size or number of largemouth bass harvested. Bass fishing has been good in past years in May and June tapering off as the lake level decreases and the water warms up later in the summer.

Please note that Odell Creek and the Odell Creek channel are closed upstream of West Davis Campground boat ramp until May 26, when they open for catch-and release trout fishing using artificial flies and lures only. Davis Lake is located off of the Cascade Lakes Highway near Crane Praire reservoir and is easily accessible from Bend and Sun River.

Deschutes River, Lower:   An expected strong return of hatchery spring chinook to Deschutes should provide an excellent fishing opportunity. Approximately 14,500 hatchery origin spring chinook are expected to return to the Deschutes in 2012. The Deschutes from Sherars Bridge downstream to the mouth is open from April 15 though July 31 to the harvest of adipose fin-clipped spring Chinook. The bag limit is 1 adipose fin-clipped adults and 5 adipose fin-clipped jacks. Peak spring chinook harvest of spring chinook in the Deschutes, typically occurs in early May. Anglers can watch fish counts at Columbia River dams www.fpc.org to help gauge run timing into the Deschutes. Most spring chinook angers generally concentrate their efforts in the bait fishing from Sherars Falls downstream to the upper railroad trestle.

The Sherars Falls area is located approximately 10 miles downstream from Maupin.  Camping is available at Sherars Falls in the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs campground, or at several BLM campgrounds in the near vicinity. Angers are reminded that a tribal access permit is needed to fish in the area immediately downstream from Shears Falls. Permits can be purchased on site at self-registration boxes located on site, or at www.tribalpermit.com  Anglers can still find success fishing hardware and greater solitude in areas downstream Sherars to the mouth of the river. The river from Sherars Falls upstream to the Pelton re-regulation dam is closed to chinook salmon fishing.  Anglers are reminded that it is unlawful to continue angling from Sherars Falls downstream to the upper railroad trestle after taking a daily bag limit of  two adult fin-clipped Chinook salmon. 
 
Trout anglers should find good success throughout the early spring, as many insect hatches begin occurring on the Deschutes in the spring. The Deschutes famous salmonflies reach maturity in May and June, which create a frenzy among both trout and anglers. Anglers are reminded to avoid wading or fishing on, or near, gravel bars during the early spring to avoid disturbance to spawning steelhead and trout. The daily bag limit is two trout 10 to 13 inches in length, and all rainbow trout 20 inches or more are considered steelhead.

Steelhead -Oregon Fish and Wildlife-

Steelhead will be arriving in the lower river in early June, with their abundance peaking by the middle of September. Anglers can watch fish counts at Columbia River dams www.fpc.org to help gauge run timing into the Deschutes. They also can go the ODFW Web site to check out the number of steelhead passing Sherars Falls.

Only artificial flies and lures are permitted except from Sherars Falls downstream to the upstream-most railroad trestle where bait is permitted. Trout, whitefish and hatchery origin steelhead fishing is open all year from the mouth upstream to markers at the northern boundary of the Warm Springs Reservation, which is 17 miles upstream from Maupin. The Deschutes from that point upstream to 600 feet below the Pelton re-regulation dam is open to trout fishing from April 28 through Oct. 31, and April 28 through Dec. 31 for adipose fin-clipped steelhead whitefish and coho salmon. Anglers may harvest three adipose fin-clipped steelhead per day in the Deschutes.

Information on boating and camping on the Lower Deschutes can be obtained from the Bureau of Land Management at www.boaterpass.com or by phone at 541-416-6700. 

Billy Chinook Lake upstream to Benham Falls:  Open year-round. Fishing should be should be fair for brown trout and redband trout. A number of entities are working to restore increased fish-sustaining summer flows through this reach of river, benefiting all trout.  The best fishing is usually from just above Steelhead Falls downriver.

Deschutes River, Upper Benham Falls upstream to Wickiup Reservoir: Season opens May 26. Fishing should be fair for brown trout. There will also be opportunity for catchable hatchery stocked rainbow trout through the upper stretches of this reach.

East Lake: Opened to fishing April 28. Kokanee, rainbow trout, brown trout and Atlantic salmon are present in the lake.  The Department has implemented chub trapping operations to improve sport fishing.  Expect fair to good catches of rainbow and brown trout early in the season. Brown trout numbers are good with fair numbers of large fish. Catchable rainbow trout are stocked intermittently through the season. Expect fair to good numbers of carryover rainbow early in the season. East Lake has become a popular fly fishing destination for brown trout, rainbow trout and Atlantic salmon. East Lake is located in the Newberry Crater off of Highway 97 near LaPine. Contact the East Lake Resort or Deschutes National Forest for up to date reports.

Haystack Reservoir: Open to year-round fishing. Legal-sized rainbows are stocked in mid-April. Moderate numbers of large brown trout are present. Kokanee fishing should be fair in the spring while fishing for bass, bluegill and crappie should improve as the water warms. The daily bag limit is five trout including kokanee.  Fishing for brown bullhead should be good.

Launch ramps on the east and west shores are in good condition. This is an irrigation re-regulating reservoir, thus water levels fluctuate daily. However, there will be adequate boating water throughout the season. Haystack Reservoir is located east of Highway 97 between Redmond and Bend.

Hood River System (excluding West Fork):  Hood River drains the North slope of Mt. Hood and enters the Columbia river at the town of Hood River. Anglers will find good public access on the lower 4.5 miles of the river in the PacifiCorps property that was formerly associated with the now removed Powerdale Dam. Flow conditions will be average in the Hood River throughout the spring, providing excellent fishing opportunities for late winter steelhead, summer steelhead and spring chinook salmon.

Angling deadlines have changed in the Hood River following the removal of Powerdale Dam. The upstream deadline is located at the confluence of the West Fork with the mainstem Hood River, and in the West Fork upstream to 200 feet below Punchbowl Falls. Anglers should check ODFW’s web site for more information changes or updates on regulations for the Hood River.

Fishery managers are predicting a strong return of hatchery-origin spring chinook to the Hood River this spring, and have set a season to open April 15 – June 30.  The bag limit for spring chinook is 2 adipose fin-marked adult spring chinook, and 5 adipose fin-marked spring chinook jacks. The Hood River offers an excellent opportunity for anglers to land a spring chinook without the use of a boat. Successful anglers usually use a combination of bait and hardware for both steelhead and spring chinook. 

The Hood River opens for catch-and-release trout fishing May 26 through Oct. 31. Only artificial flies and lures may be used when trout fishing upstream from the area open to salmon and steelhead angling.
 
Anglers also are reminded that the Hood River system is closed to the harvest of bull trout. All bull trout must be released unharmed.

West Fork Hood River upstream of Punchbowl Falls, and tributaries: Closed to all fishing for maximum protection of federally-protected steelhead and salmon stocks.

Hosmer Lake: Hosmer lake is a fly fishing only lake located off of the Cascade Lakes highway. The lake is a feature fishery for Atlantic salmon and also has a population of brook trout and the occasional rainbow trout. The clear water makes fish skittish, so this is a great lake to target during periods of low use. Recent population surveys suggest the Atlantic Salmon population has increased in recent years.

Kingsley Reservoir:  Kingsley reservoir is located west of Hood River, off of Kingsley Road. Anglers should focus efforts early in the year, as the reservoir level will drop rapidly as the season progresses. Kingsley will be stocked as soon as access allows with legal-sized and trophy rainbow. Kingsley Reservoir is open all year. Anglers should also note that Kingsley will receive excess adult hatchery steelhead from the Hood River when available. 

Lake Billy Chinook:  Kokanee fishing should be fair with peak fishing pressure expected in July and August. Kokanee are included as part of the trout bag limit.

Fishing for trout should be fair in the uppermost reaches of all three arms. The trout daily limit is five trout per day, and only one trout greater than 20 inches may be taken per day.

Opportunities for bull trout are good; however, most fish are smaller than the 24-inch minimum length.  Most anglers concentrate their efforts in the Metolius Arm. Regulations allow one bull trout per day and one bull trout in possession with a 24-inch minimum length. Bull trout must be immediately released unharmed unless kept in the daily catch limit. A tribal fishing permit is required in addition to an Oregon State fishing license to fish in the Metolius Arm. There is a closed-to-fishing sanctuary from the cable downstream 350 yards at the head of the Metolius Arm.
Smallmouth bass fishing should be good in all three arms as the water warms. Bass average 6-10 inches in Lake Billy Chinook. 

Spring Chinook - Oregon Fish and Wildlife-

Steelhead and chinook salmon adults will be released into Lake Billy Chinook so they can continue their migration to the spawning beds in the Crooked, Deschutes and Metolius River systems.  The release of steelhead adults is encouraged and the harvest of chinook salmon is not permitted.

Anglers are encouraged to consult the 2012 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations before fishing. Lake Billy Chinook is located approximately 15 minutes west of Madras.

Laurance Lake:  Laurence Lake is located west of Parkdale, off of Clear Creek Road.  The Lake is open April 28-Oct. 31 and will likely be full at the start of fishing season. However, water levels will drop rapidly as the season progresses. Anglers should contact the Mt. Hood National Forest Hood River Ranger District at 541-352-6002 for access and camping information at the lake.

Holdover and legal-sized trout will be available for the opener. All non fin-clipped trout must be released unharmed, and only artificial flies and lures can be used. All bull trout must be released unharmed. Tributary streams are closed to all fishing. Anglers are encouraged to keep any smallmouth bass caught, as bass have been illegally introduced and will negatively impact trout fisheries.

Lost Lake:  Lost Lake is located west of Dee, and can be reached from Lost Lake Road (Forest Rd. 13). Lost Lake is open year-round, and provides excellent fishing opportunity throughout the summer. The picturesque lake also offers excellent boating opportunity, though the use of motors is prohibited. The lake will be stocked with legal- and trophy-sized trout as soon as access allows. In addition to legal and trophy rainbow trout, natural brown trout, and holdover fish will be available. Lost Lake should remain at normal surface levels throughout the summer

Anglers should contact the Mt. Hood National Forest Hood River Ranger District at 541-352-6002 for early season access and camping information as lingering snow may hinder access.

North Twin Lake:  Open year-round and provides a fishery for 9 to 11-inch rainbow trout. North Twin is a great family setting and it provides good shelter from the wind and has nice shoreline for kids to fish from. The lake offers good boat fishing, though use of motors is prohibited. North Twin Lake can be accessed off of Forest Service Road 42 between Wickiup and Crane Praire.

Rainbow Trout on a stringer - Photo by Bob Swingle, ODFW-

Ochoco Reservoir:  Angler reports suggest that fishing has improved with increased stocking efforts. Anglers are effective with a wide range of bait and tackle. Boat anglers should concentrate in the upper end of the reservoir near the mouths of Ochoco and Mill creeks during the months of April and May. The reservoir will be stocked with fingerling rainbows in October, and the daily bag limit is five trout.

Black crappie fishing should improve as temperatures rise and brown bullhead fishing in the upper part of the reservoir is excellent in April and May. Black crappie and brown bullhead were illegally introduced to the reservoir and ODFW does not limit their harvest. Bank anglers are asked to respect private property on the shoreline.

The reservoir is open to year-round fishing. A boat ramp and camping facilities are available.

Odell Lake:  Kokanee fishing at Odell Lake has been excellent.  Those anglers targeting kokanee will be most successful at dawn and dusk. Kokanee should be running in the 11 to 13-inch size range and in good condition. Early season lake trout fishing also should be good. Only one lake trout per day is allowed as part of the daily trout limit and it must be at least 30 inches in length.

Odell also provides some opportunity for nice rainbow trout. Please note that bull trout are federally listed as threatened and their numbers are extremely low in Odell Lake. Targeted fishing for bull trout is not allowed and any incidentally caught bull trout must be released unharmed. Fishing is closed within 200 feet of the mouth of Odell Creek to protect bull trout. Do not remove bull trout from water when releasing them.

Odell Lake is about 70 miles southeast of Eugene and just off Highway 58.

Olallie Lake: Olallie Lake is located on the crest of the central cascades, in the shadow of Olallie Butte. The lake will be stocked with legal-sized and trophy rainbow trout as access allows. Anglers may also catch many holdover fish from previous stockings.

Anglers can call the Mt. Hood National Forest Clackamas Ranger District at (503)-630-6861 for access and camping information. The resort and store has reopened and will be available for business.

In addition to fishing on Olallie, energetic anglers can hike to nearby mountain lakes to fish for brook trout. 

Paulina Lake: Opened to fishing April 28. Paulina provides great opportunity for brown trout of all size classes. Expect best catches of large brown trout early in the season and early and late in the day.

Kokanee fishing is expected to be fair with most fish ranging from 9 to 12 inches. Kokanee catches will improve as lake productivity increases in May and June. As with the brown trout, early morning anglers have better success bringing home the kokanee. There is a five trout daily bag limit (includes kokanee) which may include one trout greater than 20 inches.

Paulina Lake is located in the Newberry Crater off of Highway 97 near Lapine. Contact the Paulina Lake Resort or Deschutes National Forest for up-to-date reports.

Rainbow Trout - Photo by Jim Walker-

Prineville Reservoir: Fishing for rainbow trout will be good with fish averaging 13 to 16-inches long. Opportunities also will be good for black crappie, brown bullhead and bass. Crappie numbers are similar to recent years, and they are still readily available and support a popular fishery. Reports from bass tournaments showed that catches are increasing in response to translocation efforts from Davis Lake.  Most largemouth bass anglers concentrate on the upper end of the reservoir, while smallmouth are available in rocky shoreline areas throughout the reservoir. The reservoir is about 12 miles southeast of Prineville.

Prineville Youth Pond: The Prineville Youth Pond is stocked every spring and fall with rainbow trout. Fishing is open to youth 17-years-old and younger, and there is a two fish limit including an 8 inch minimum length on trout. Bass are catchable year-round and their population is replenished in June.

To get to the pond from Third Street in Prineville, turn south onto Main Street. Parking is available on the west side of Main St. just past Lynn Blvd., or directly next to the Crook County Christian School and across from the Crook County Fairgrounds. Cross the Crooked River on the iron Bridge in Rimrock Park to get to the pond.

Rock Creek and Pine Hollow Reservoirs: These reservoirs located near the town of Wamic can be easily accessed from both sides of the Cascades.  Both are open all year and have been stocked with legal-sized and trophy sized rainbow trout. Early season reports from both reservoirs have indicated good catches. The reservoirs are currently full, but will drop rapidly as the season progresses. Pine Hollow should be good on the opening weekend since good numbers of fish over-winter in the reservoir. Good numbers of largemouth bass are also available in Pine Hollow reservoir. Both reservoirs will likely be full for the opening weekend, and boat ramps should be useable.

Shevlin Pond: Shevlin Pond is stocked with rainbow trout throughout the spring and summer months. Fishing is open to all youth 17-years-old and younger, and there is a two fish limit. Shevlin Pond is located in the north end of Shevlin Park, which is west of Bend on Newport Avenue.

Simtustus Lake:  Open to fishing April 28 - Oct. 31. Fishing should be fair for kokanee, and good for rainbow trout (8 to 16-inches). Legal-sized rainbow trout will be stocked before opening weekend and through the summer. Some bull trout also are available.

A tribal fishing permit is required in addition to a state fishing license to fish in the lake. The bag limit is five trout per day which includes kokanee and bull trout. Bull trout limit is one fish with a 24-inch minimum as in Lake Billy Chinook.

The store and campground at Pelton Park will be open, and a boat ramp is available. Pelton Park is located between Madras and Warm Springs, in the Deschutes River Canyon.

South Twin Lake:  South Twin was chemically treated to remove bullhead catfish and stickleback in 2011. The lake has responded well and anglers are reporting great fishing. South Twin Lake is a popular and reliable lake for rainbow trout fishing and provides a sheltered fishing opportunity when early season cold temperatures and wind become a problem on larger water bodies. South Twin provides nice shorelines for both kids and adults alike to fish from. Boat fishing is also very popular; however, motors are prohibited. The rainbow trout in South Twin typically run 11 to 13-inches long with a fewer carryover fish in the 14 to 16-inch range.  South Twin Lake can be accessed off of Forest Service Road 42 between Wickiup and Crane Prairie.

Floating & Fishing at Suttle Lake -Photo by ODFW-

Suttle Lake:  Open to fishing year-round. Expect fair to good catches of brown trout and kokanee. Target brown trout early and late in the day along the north shoreline. Kokanee numbers should be good. Fishing for kokanee should improve as water warms into June and then taper off into late summer. Suttle Lake has a kokanee bag limit of 25 fish per day in addition to the trout species catch limit. Suttle Lake is located on Highway 20, east of Hoodoo Ski Area.  Contact the Deschutes National Forest or Suttle Lake Lodge for up-to-date conditions.

Taylor Lake:  Open the entire year. This lake close to The Dalles will be stocked several times throughout the early season with legal-sized and trophy trout.  The lake will also receive excess adult hatchery steelhead early in the spring, when available. Taylor is best in the early season before the water warms. Taylor provides good warmwater fishing opportunity as temperatures increase during the summer. 

Walton Lake:  Open the entire year. The lake is stocked prior to Memorial Day weekend and throughout the summer, providing a quality fishing experience following the removal of bullhead catfish in 2009. Fishing should be excellent!  Walton Lake is approximately 45 minutes east of Prineville on Forest Road 42.

Wickiup Reservoir: Opened to fishing April 28. Wickiup Reservoir water level is 100 percent of capacity. Most large browns are caught early in the season, both early and late in the day. Some large rainbow trout are available. Target shallow water flats early in the season and river channel areas as the water warms. Kokanee numbers are expected to be fair to good again this year. Kokanee will be scattered early in the season and begin schooling in channels sometime in June. There is a bonus bag limit on kokanee of 25 fish in addition to the trout bag limit.

Largemouth bass anglers should seek out the willow flats though brown bullhead have,to some degree, taken over the southeastern area of the reservoir. The largemouth bass fishing will improve as water temperatures get warmer. There is no limit on size or number of warmwater gamefish, including largemouth bass, in Wickiup Reservoir. Anglers interested in targeting brown bullhead should fish southeast areas of the reservoir.  Wickiup reservoir is located off of the Cascade Lakes Highway (Forest Service Road 46) and is easily accessible from Bend and Sunriver. 

For more information about fishing opportunities in the Central Zone, contact the nearest ODFW office:

Deschutes Watershed District Office
Bend, OR 97702
541-388-6363

Prineville Field Office
Prineville, OR 97754
541-447-5111