| Bend Oregon is home to several different species | | | | up the Deschutes channel. |
| of trout. Rainbow Trout, German Brown Trout, | | | | Early morning and late evening is the best time to |
| Lake Trout, Bull Trout and Brook Trout are the | | | | target the large Browns. |
| primary species caught within a short drive from | | | | Wickiup only has one improved boat ramp which |
| Bend. | | | | is located at Gull Point. There is not a boat dock |
| Almost all lakes and streams in Central Oregon | | | | so it makes it somewhat difficult for launching and |
| contain Rainbow Trout. The Deschutes River is | | | | boarding your boat. There are a couple of |
| world famous for it trout fishing. It begins in the | | | | improved camp grounds as well as many |
| Cascade Mountains Southwest of Bend. It is the | | | | unimproved places to camp. |
| source of water for Crane Prairie Reservoir and | | | | The Deschutes River continues below Wickiup |
| Wickiup Reservoir. It runs through the middle of | | | | dam and flows through Bend. This section |
| Bend and eventually flows into the mighty | | | | contains some smaller Rainbows and some nice |
| Columbia River. | | | | sized German Browns. It runs through the |
| Crane Prairie Reservoir is known for its large | | | | Deschutes National forest. There is a good drift |
| trout ("Cranebows"). It is about a one hour drive | | | | from the dam down to the Pringle Falls area. |
| from Bend. It was flooded in 1928 with most of | | | | Pringle Falls is dangerous and cannot be drifted. |
| the timber left standing. It is a relatively shallow | | | | Watch for signs and be prepared to take out |
| lake with the deepest sections about 15-20 feet | | | | above the falls. This is a beautiful drift. The river |
| deep near the channels in the spring. The water | | | | from Pringle Falls to Bend has several different |
| level drops steadily all summer during the irrigation | | | | water falls that cannot be drifted. Check the |
| season. | | | | numerous books available that discuss this section |
| The Cranebows spawn in the upper Deschutes in | | | | of river in detail. |
| early spring and then return to the reservoir and | | | | The section of river that runs through Bend does |
| are scattered around the shallower water. As the | | | | not produce many fish as it is not stocked with |
| water warms in early summer the fish start | | | | hatchery fish and receives substantial fishing |
| congregating around the channels. Twenty to | | | | pressure. |
| thirty inch rainbows are common. | | | | The Deschutes flows from Bend into Lake Billy |
| All methods of lake fishing work on this strong | | | | Chinook which is located between Redmond and |
| fighting fish. Fly fishing is very popular once the | | | | Madras. Lake Billy Chinook is actually a reservoir |
| fish move into the channels. Trolling flies, spoons | | | | that is backed up by Round Butte dam. "Round |
| or spinners is a popular method early in the | | | | Butte" reservoir is filled by the Deschutes River, |
| season. Early summer brings on weed growth | | | | Crooked River and the Metolius River. |
| which makes it difficult to troll without fowling you | | | | Lake Billy Chinook is known for its native Bull |
| lure. | | | | Trout population. Bull Trout are close to extinction |
| There are numerous campgrounds and one resort | | | | in many parts of Oregon but not in Lake Billy |
| on Crane Prairie. The resort provides rental boats, | | | | Chinook. The state record Bull Trout was caught |
| licenses and anything you might need for trout | | | | here in 1989. It weighed 23 pounds and 2 ounces. |
| fishing. The owners are always helpful in pointing | | | | Ten to fifteen pound fish are still common with |
| new anglers to where the fish are biting the best. | | | | several being caught every year. |
| It is difficult to fish here without a boat. | | | | The best time to catch a large Bull Trout is in |
| The Deschutes flows out of Crane Prairie and a | | | | March and April. The Metolius arm of the reservoir |
| few short miles into Wickiup Reservoir. Wickiup | | | | boarders the Warm Springs Indian reservation and |
| has large Rainbow and German Brown Trout as | | | | is closed from the end of October to March 1st |
| well as a large population of Kokanee Salmon. The | | | | every year. Early in the season the larger trout |
| Kokanee and Browns are the primary targeted | | | | come into the shallows (10-20 feet) to feed on |
| fish. | | | | the abundant Kokanee salmon. |
| Early spring brings out the die hard Brown Trout | | | | If you find the Kokanee you will find the Bull |
| fisherman. They concentrate near the dam and | | | | Trout. A boat is necessary to catch these fish. |
| generally troll Rapalas or similar minnow type lures. | | | | They are caught by casting the shore line with |
| Ten pound fish are common in the early spring. | | | | silver minnow plugs, trolling plugs, fly fishing with a |
| Since Brown trout are nocturnal you'll find the | | | | sink tip line or jigging the deeper water if the fish |
| serious fisherman on the water at first light. | | | | have not moved up into the shallows yet. |
| Wickiup is best fished by boat but some large | | | | If you are interested in pursuing Bull Trout check |
| browns are caught from shore along the dam in | | | | the authors' web site for more helpful information, |
| the spring. | | | | links and pictures. |
| During the summer the Kokanee start | | | | The trout fishing in this article is all located within a |
| congregating along the river channel. Jigging, bait | | | | one hour drive from Bend. There are many other |
| fishing or trolling are the preferred methods for | | | | lakes, reservoirs and streams within an hour of |
| catching the Wickiup Kokanee. The Kokanee | | | | Bend that are not mentioned in this article. |
| spawn in the fall with the Browns following them | | | | |