Here is the weekly fishing report for selected areas in and around Central Oregon, provided by fisheries biologists for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife:
CENTRAL ZONE
BIG LAVA LAKE: Anglers are having fair to good success and the bite should continue to improve as the water temperatures warm. Big Lava is a great place to catch nice rainbow trout ranging from 12 to 20 inches in length.
CRANE PRAIRIE RESERVOIR: Anglers are having some degree of success catching nice rainbow trout, along with a few brook trout. Crane provides great opportunity for top-of-the-line brook trout and anglers are strongly encouraged to try their hand at angling for them. Fish brook trout at dawn and dusk. Small spinners or spoons are often quite effective as are both wet and dry flies. Worms also work well.
CRESCENT LAKE: Anglers continue to have good success catching kokanee, lake trout and brown trout.
CROOKED RIVER BELOW BOWMAN DAM: Flows have been stable around 230 cfs and the water is less turbid than normal. Anglers are reporting success on surface and sub-surface flies. Anglers should also note the great opportunity to view eagles this time of year throughout the canyon.
EAST LAKE: Reports of good success and some fair success. The rainbows appear to be a little thin from the long winter and hopefully will fill out as the water warms. Weekend water temperatures ranged from 37 degrees to 38 degrees.
FALL RIVER: Recent reports from a couple of experienced angler types indicate that the angling has been fair with a few nice fish being caught. Despite the warmer temperatures and increased insect hatches it appears that nymphing is still the most productive method for catching fish.
KINGSLEY RESERVOIR: Kingsley has been recently stocked and should offer good opportunity for legal and trophy-sized trout.
LAKE BILLY CHINOOK: Bass fishing has picked up extensively over the past few weeks. Kokanee bag limit is five fish per day, included in the trout daily bag limit.
LAURANCE LAKE RESERVOIR: Laurance Lake has been recently stocked and should offer good opportunity for legal and trophy-sized trout. Anglers have reported excellent early season success.
LITTLE LAVA LAKE: Little Lava Lake anglers indicated the bite was a little slow over the weekend.
METOLIUS RIVER: Some recent reports of fair success. The warmer temperatures continue to make for good hatches. The green drakes are showing up and should make for some good action over the next couple of weeks. The reach of river from Allingham Bridge upstream to the Metolius headspring is now open.
NORTH TWIN: Fishing is reported to be fair. Good beaches, good wind protection and good numbers of stocked rainbow trout are North Twin positives.
OCHOCO RESERVOIR: Anglers continue to report occasional catches of large fish.
ODELL LAKE: The fishing at Odell can be fast and furious one minute and slow the next, but if one is patient ultimately they’ll catch some nice kokanee. The lake trout bite is still fair and anglers have also seen success for rainbow trout. Please note that all bull trout must be released unharmed.
PAULINA LAKE: The lake is now accessible with anglers reporting some success for brown trout and rainbow trout and limited success for kokanee.
PRINEVILLE RESERVOIR: Fishing for warmwater species has been consistent.
ROCK CREEK RESERVOIR: Rock Creek has been recently stocked with trout and should provide good opportunity to catch a limit of trout.
SOUTH TWIN: South Twin anglers are reporting fair catches of rainbow trout. South Twin provides plenty of opportunity for rainbow trout.
SUTTLE LAKE: No angler reports, though the lake should provide good opportunity for anglers interested in chasing kokanee or brown trout.
WICKIUP RESERVOIR: Anglers are having success catching brown trout and limited numbers of kokanee. The kokanee are in great condition with a few fish ranging up to 16 inches in length. Anglers are encouraged to work the shallows for browns and rainbows during the early morning hours and hours just before dusk.
