5 GREAT SPOTS FOR OREGON TROUT FISHING
If you’re a trout fisherman — or have ever wanted to try trout fishing — Central Oregon is the place for it, with its hundreds of miles of rivers and dozens of lakes holding rainbows, browns, brook and bull trout. And sprinkled throughout this high desert region, you’ll find plenty of fly shops and guides to help you understand the subtleties of the long rod. Here are a few favorites.
1 Fall River
A few miles south of Sunriver, the Fall River flows gin-clear through lodge pole and ponderosa pine forests. The Fall maintains a steady water temperature year-round, which sustains healthy insect populations for the trout. Here, you’ll find mostly rainbow trout in the 10- to 14-inch range, with a smattering of fish that can push 20 inches.
You’ll often spot fish feeding, either dimpling the surface as they eat adult bugs or flashing in the depths as they gobble nymphs. The bad news is, thanks to the clear water, they see you too. The Fall is fly-fishing only, and stealthy anglers using long, light leaders and small flies will increase their odds.
Looking for a guide or some pro tips? Stop by the Hook Fly Shop in Sunriver Village. Open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, until 8 p.m. during the summer; www.hookfish.com. 2 East and Paulina Lakes
East of the Fall, at an elevation of more than 6,500 feet, is the Newberry National Volcanic Monument. Part of the caldera of a collapsed volcano contains two picturesque lakes: East and Paulina. Fly fishermen will find both rainbow and brown trout. The morning and evening insect hatches can be prolific, especially around the weed beds that circle the lakes; some of the browns grow particularly large.
Deeper down you’ll find a favorite quarry for those who enjoy a few fish on the grill: Kokanee, which are landlocked sockeye salmon. Both jigging and trolling will work; the key is finding the depth that the fish are holding at. Once you find them, the odds are good you’ll get your limit.
Boat rentals and gear are available at East Lake Resort, which will open for the season on May 24; eastlakeresort.com. 3 Crooked River
The Crooked runs through a dramatic canyon south of Prineville, about 25 miles east of Bend. The terrain is a stark contrast to the lusher environs of the Fall. It runs perpetually off-color, but don’t be put off by the unclear water; the Crooked is full of rainbows and whitefish.
Thanks to its lower visibility and large hatches of blue-winged olives and caddis (among other bugs), the fish are not terribly difficult to fool; it’s a confidence-builder after the clear waters of the Fall. Easy to wade, the Fall is ideal for newcomers to stream fishing,
and is open to spin fishing, though since it’s shallow, those fishing spinners should focus on deeper pools.
Good advice is available at The Patient Angler in Bend. Open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays and until 4 p.m. weekends at 822 SE Third St.; www.patientangler.com. 4 Metolius River
The Metolius is Central Casting’s answer to the call for “beautiful trout stream.” The spring creek runs crystal clear and 48 degrees year-round, passing through thick stands of ponderosa pine and Western red cedar. It has a populations of native fish, rainbows, whitefish and bull trout, a fish-eating trout that can reach weights of 15 pounds.
The Metolius is not easy fishing, thanks to tricky micro-currents and trout that have seen more than a few flies and lures. The river’s rainbows let down their guard a bit during the green drake hatch in June. Many a competent angler has come away from the Metolius fishless, but few come away unmoved. Note that the upper sections of the Metolius are fly-fishing only.
The Fly Fisher’s Place in Sisters is the spot for guidance. Open 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday and until 4 p.m. on Sundays at 151 W. Main Ave.; flyfishersplace.com. 5 Deschutes River
The Deschutes’ different sections — Upper, Middle and Lower — each have different personalities and potential for excellent angling. Fishermen can find big brook trout on the Upper Deschutes and rainbow trout in downtown Bend on the Middle. But it’s the lower Deschutes (below Pelton Dam and Lake Billy Chinook) that draws anglers from around the world.
In spring and early summer, native rainbows are the focus. Spinners work well; salmon flies are a favorite insect hatch for fly anglers, and appear mid-May to mid-June. Come September, angler attention shifts to steelhead, a type of rainbow trout that migrates to the Pacific for several years before returning to their natal stream to spawn. Steelhead, which range from 5 to 20 pounds, are one of freshwater angling’s hardest fighting species; the way they take the fly or spinner can be likened to hooking a rumbling freight train.
Many guides offer trips on the Deschutes, including Littleleaf Guide Service, which offers nearly private river access on the Warm Springs Reservation; www.littleleafguides.com.
Travel writer Chris Santella is the author of more than a dozen books, including “Fifty Places to Fly Fish Before You Die” and “The Tug is the Drug.”