Central and Eastern Oregon Fishing Reports
From our friend Tim
Well, it’s that time of year when fishing reports from most of my sources have dried up and folks are holed up. Bird hunting is mostly over, there just aren’t many people out there…but the fish are always looking up and they gotta eat!
Lower Deschutes River – My only report is from the middle Deschutes between Bend and lower Bridge. There are a few guys targeting Browns with streamers and the fishing has been fair (or really good considering it’s late January). As for the lower river, I have heard no news but I can give you a report based on the knowledge I’ve gleaned from years gone by. It’s going to be unseasonably warm tomorrow so if you can go…GO! Fishing should be really good. Fish a big and small nymph combo early and watch for BWO hatches later in the day.
John Day River – Steelhead fishing is fair in the river from Clarno to the forks. Swinging flies and fishing the tailouts and pool heads with #3 and 4 Blue Fox spinners are getting most of the fish. Jigs under a float will take fish too! Temps will be nice and that should help the bite. Check the flows before you go…if they got a bunch of rain or melted snow upriver it can blow out in a hurry!
Metolius River – The Fly Fisherman’s Place shop in Sisters reports good fishing on nymphs with a BWO and a small black stone hatch in the afternoon. It’s one of the best winter fisheries around and there aren’t the crowds you get in the summer!
Crooked River – With Warmer weather and stable flows fishing should be good. Fish small midge imitations and micro midge nymphs on light tippets.
Prineville and Haystack Reservoirs – Fish continue to be pulled out of both and some of those rainbows are HUGE! Worms under a float or suspended off the bottom are working well for bank fishermen. Fly guys should slowly strip small buggers and leech patterns.
I’m hoping to get out this weekend – maybe the Deschutes or Crooked. Probably Saturday…I guess there’s a big football game on Sunday…or so I’ve heard!
Tight lines y’all!
From ODF&W
Bank anglers are catching some nice trout from the bank at Ochoco Reservoir.
The Crooked River continues to offer good opportunities for trout and whitefish up to 16 inches.
Steelhead fishing on the Grande Ronde can be quite good in January and February when flows cooperate. Look for uncrowded conditions and lots of open water.
Steelhead fishing on the John Day has slowed due to high water and slow visibility. But steelhead continue to move upriver so keep an eye on water levels and be ready to water when levels start to drop.
Fishing conditions on the Umatilla are good. Water levels increased this week and over 40 steelhead have been counted at Threemile Dam in the past three days. Steelhead anglers should focus on the lower sections of the river above and below Threemile Dam.
Recent warm weather has made ice conditions suspect on many waterbodies. Please use extra caution when venturing out onto the ice for ice fishing.
The warmer weather has melted enough ice on Thief Valley Reservoir that bank fishing for holdover trout is an option.
Ana Reservoir offers a unique fishing experience for hybrid bass throughout the winter. Fishing has been fair.
Best bet for the Klamath area continues to be native redband trout in the Klamath River. Check out the stretch between the Powerhouse and CA state line.