Central Oregon Lakes

Phish_on · 07-24-2001, 04:25 PM

trout talk...

Help me dream up my angling intinerary for my (Sunriver) vacation next week. Any reports more recent than the ODFW page [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img] would be helpful.

I'll have canoe and runabout both available. I will probably give Paulina a try, it's close & beautiful & the fish are big when they can be fooled.

Crane Prairie is low ... but - is that bad? Seems like the fish would be more concentrated in the channels - but maybe the canoe would be a better craft? (yeah, in the wind ... right ... off the water by 10 AM)

What's the fly of choice for mid-summer?

I've heard reports of numerous (if not large) fish at Big Lava Lake - I have never fished there. Think I will make a morning run to Odell and see how the kokanee are holding out. So many lakes, so few days, and then there's that river ... [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

Thanks - - then it's BUOY 10 BABY !!! Boss, I've got a fever ... looks like I might be out a little while.

birdhunter · 07-24-2001, 07:21 PM

Wickiup baby! Hit that reservoir for some monster German Browns. Long-lining rapalas w/ a trout pattern or some other deep diving plug should pay off. Haven't seen the water levels, but I understand that it is still brimming. Mainly a spring fed lake, so the low rain levels aren't affecting it. Check the water temp. Big big key over there. Mornings and evenings you can troll shallow, but when it heats up, the lunkers will get down in the cooler water. Doesn't necessarily have to be deeper. I've seen 5 lb browns at noon in 2 feet of gin clear water where some of the cold little creeks pour in. Getting them to bite can sometimes be another story. [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img] Best of luck! Report back.

CAGEY · 07-24-2001, 08:53 PM

Give Elk lake a shot for some huge rainbows, iam talking 4 and 5 pounders. Ask at the lodge what the hot lure is, they will be glad to assist you. The lake is up near Cultus and make sure you take your camera because the view is just fantastic.Cagey.

Smily · 07-25-2001, 06:26 AM

This Last weekend I was at East Lake. What a beautiful lake that one is. We caught some Rainbows and I caught a Brown trout of really no size but seen other people who did catch some bigger ones. I had also seen a 20" brown swimming on the shore. The store had pictures of all the big browns and the majority seemed to be caught on either Rapala's or flashers with worm and corn. My friends did manage to get in some kokanee as well. I was at Paulina lake last year and they had a serious Mosquito problem and other flying creatures. As for flies I don't know which one would work out there, but they were Jumping Everywhere in the evening bite. My vote is for East Lake over Paulina Lake.
[img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img] Smily [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

Tanner · 07-25-2001, 08:09 AM

Phish,
If you fish at Crane, definitely try some damselfly nymphs. Also some Kaufman's dragonfly nymphs and definitely Olive Wooly Buggers. Fish them on a floating or intermediate line with long leaders. Your leader length will be the key to success over there. I usually use 12 - 16 feet. Another good lake to try is Little Cultus. It is a good lake for a canoe and there are some really nice Eastern Brookies in there.
If you want to flyfish you should definitely try Davis Lake. There are some monster rainbows in there and I would imagine with the temperature a lot of them will be hanging around the Odell Creek channel. Talk to the folks at the flyshop in the industrial park at Sun River and they will tell you what is working. I like stripping big streamers in their for the submarine sized rainbows.

Have Fun.

[ 07-25-2001: Message edited by: Tanner ]

07-25-2001, 05:36 PM

I went to Wikiup last Saturday.The water is starting to drop,still in good shape (no algae). The officer who did a safety inspection said it will be dropping to a exceptionally low level this year do to work to be done on the dam.The Kokanee haven't gotten into big schools yet.People were spread out some trolling some jigging.I went to a spot I have fished since I was quite young on Davis channel. We marked a decent number of fish. As soon as we got our bait down to them we had fish,we then jigged with a orange nordic again as soon as we down we had fish. They were exceptionally hot fish(all over the place when hooked).After a half hour of this they disappeared and that was that.We also got a 24 inch rainbow to go with our 13-14 inch Kokes (big this year)

Navigator · 07-25-2001, 10:12 PM

Phish:

I heard a good report from Davis. Adams, #12-14, in the evening. The lake is low - pram works best. Parachute Adams makes life easier toward dusk. Good sized fish - corralled in the low water.

Phish_on · 07-26-2001, 08:16 AM

This is great stuff, thanks! I talked to my brother last night, he's coming up for a couple of days - I think we will try Davis. What's are the ramps like? I don't have a pram!! It's canoe or 16' wooden runabout ... any thoughts on canoe - if we stick around the Odell Creek end? It's all about the wind, I guess, nothing as delightful as trying to steer a canoe in a serious wind [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img]
The boat would just be a lot more comfortable.

So ... streamers, eh? Any favorite patterns? Sinking line, long leader, fast retrieve ...
????????
Adams in the evening, OK, sounds good.

Thanks again, this is exactly what I was looking for - you guys are the best [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] and if I don't catch a whole lot of big fish it's all your fault [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

SureSet · 07-26-2001, 07:29 PM

Phish,

Just got back from Sunriver myself. Same deal, I tried Miller, Crane Prarie, Wikiup, Paulina, and even took a day over to chickahominy. CP was dead for everyone I saw, only a couple 10" on flatfish for us in the deschutes channel. Miller was good for small browns in the shallows in the eve. I didn'td rag my boat up that road, but there were a bunch of boats working kokes. Wikiup was OK for Kokes on the deschutes arm, either jigging red or white buzz bombs (2" or 2,5"), or trolling the classic H/W (Ford F, wedding ring and white corn). Just about everyone had luck with a boat, not red hot but certianly there if you work for them. Paulina was OK, got a few planter rainbows on the opposite side from the ramps in about 20'. Lot's of people fishing kokes there as well, but we did't have time. I guess that leave Chickahominy, which was terrible for us, but from all I heard I was surprised at how much water was still there. I'm sure there are some fish to be had, but not in the middle of the day when we were there.

Have Fun!

SureSet

ssteelheadsteve · 07-28-2001, 01:08 AM

Just spent 5 days at East Lake.Average fly fisher will land 75 -150 fish in a full days fishing.Most will be < 10 ".All species are biting.
Take wet (soft) hackels in # 12,14,16 in olive tan and black.also # 16 black caddis wet and dry.Use larger flies in low light. load up on olive and tan.Plan on 6x tippet at least 24" If water is flat use 7X or don't bother.Of course the big flies will need bigger leaders and tippets.
BAD NEWS : as the moon gets bigger you will see the good bite get shorter.Early good bite starts about 8:30 am Good pm bite starts about 7:30.Dry line early and late.fast retrive or troll on wets.sink tip or uniform sink during the day.Fly fishers out fishig gear guys easily 25 -1.Brown Wooly Buggers in 25 ' during the day will get bigger fish.Increasing moon light will slow the bite during the next week.Good Luck