fishing the metolius
Home Oregon Trout Double Great Fishing
Double Oregon is home to several species of trout. Rainbow trout, German brown trout, lake trout, bull trout and brook trout are the main species caught in a short drive from Bend.
Almost all lakes and streams in Central Oregon contain rainbow trout. The Deschutes River is world famous for its trout fishing. It begins in the Cascade Mountains southwest of Bend. It is the source of water for the reservoir of the prairies wickiup towing and storage. It runs through the center of Bend and eventually flows into the mighty Columbia River.
Crane Prairie Reservoir is known for its large trout ("Cranebows). It is an hour drive from Bend. Was flooded in 1928, with most of the timber. It is a relatively shallow lake, with the deepest of 15-20 feet deep near the channels in the spring. The water level drops steadily all summer during the irrigation season.
The Cranebows spawn in the upper Deschutes in early spring and then return the deposit and are spread by surface water. When the water warms in early summer fish start congregating around the channels. Twenty to thirty inch rainbows are common.
All methods of work in this lake for fishing strong fighting fish. Fly fishing is very popular once the fish move into the channels. Trolling flies, spoons or spinners is a popular method at the beginning of the season. The Early summer brings on weed growth which makes it difficult to travel without a shotgun lure.
There are numerous camps and a resort in the crane Prairie. The resort offers boat rentals, licenses and everything you need for trout fishing. The owners are always helpful in pointing new anglers to where the fish are biting the best. It is difficult to fish here without a boat.
Deschutes flows Crane Prairie and a mile in a few wickiup reservoir. Wickiup has large Rainbow and German Brown Trout and a large population of Kokanee Salmon. The Kokanee and Browns are the main subject of fishing.
Early spring brings the fisherman die hard Brown Trout. They are concentrated near the dam and generally troll tent Rapalas or similar type lures. Ten pounds of fish are common in early spring. Because brown trout are nocturnal you will find the serious fisherman on the water at first light. Wickiup is the best fishing boat, but some large brown are caught along the coast of the dam in the spring.
During the summer the Kokanee start congregating along the riverbed. Jigging, bait fishing or trolling are the preferred methods for fishing the Kokanee wickiup. The Kokanee spawn in the fall with the Browns following them up the Deschutes channel.
Early in the morning and evening is the best time to target a large Browns.
Wickiup only has one improved boat ramp is located at the point Gaviota. There is a pier which makes it somewhat difficult to launch and board the ship. There are a couple of campsites better and improved many places to camp.
The Deschutes River continues below wickiup dam and flows through Bend. This section contains some small rainbows and some good-sized German Browns. It runs through the Deschutes National Forest. There is a good trend of the dam to the Pringle Falls area.
Pringle Falls is dangerous and can not be derived. Watch for signs and be prepared to get above the falls. This is a beautiful drift. The river of Pringle Falls to Bend has several different water falls that can not be derived. Check the many books available dealing with this stretch of river in detail.
The section of river that runs through curve does not produce many fish since it is not equipped with farmed fish and fishing pressure.
The Bend Deschutes flows into Lake Billy Chinook is between Redmond and Madras. Lake Billy Chinook is actually a reservoir that is backed by Round Butte Dam. "Round Butte" reservoir is filled by the Deschutes River, Crooked River and the river Metolius.
Lake Billy Chinook is known for its native Bull Trout population. Bull trout are close to extinction in many parts of Oregon, but not in the Lake Billy Chinook. The state record Bull Trout was caught here in 1989. It weighed 23 pounds and 2 ounces. Ten to fifteen pounds of fish are still common with several being caught every year.
The best time to catch a bull trout is in March and April. The Metolius arm of the reservoir of pensioners from the hot reservoir and closed Indian Springs from late October to 1 March each year. Early in the season's largest trout into shallow waters (10-20 feet) to feed on the abundant salmon Kokanee.
If you find the Kokanee is the bull trout. A boat is necessary to catch these fish. They are caught by casting the shoreline with silverfish plugs, trolling plugs, fly fishing with a sink tip line or jigging the deeper water if the fish have not moved up in the shallow waters yet.
If you are interested in the search for Bull Trout see the authors site for more useful information, links and photos.
The trout fishing in this article are within an hour drive from Bend. There are many other lakes, reservoirs and water courses within an hour of Bend that are not mentioned in this article.
Double Oregon is a great place to live if you like the outdoors. There are many good trout fishing locations nearby. The lower Deschutes below Bend is world famous for its salmon fly hatch, but that is the subject of another article.
About the Author
Jim Johnson CRS is a real estate expert who has lived in Bend Oregon since 1981.
Call 541-389-4511 or see his web site
www.BendOregonRealEstateExpert.com
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TROUTSIDERS: Metolius River - The Beginning
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