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Prineville Reservoir
– 15 miles south of
Prineville – offers several campgrounds and
boat launches, as well as a small resort.There
are also undeveloped campsites adjacent to
the many accessible beaches.This 3,000-acre
reservoir – 15 miles in length – provides
great opportunities for rainbow trout, bass,
brown bullhead, and black crappie.
(44.43609, -120.33497)
Crane Prairie
and
Wickiup
reservoirs
straddle South Century Drive – the 4,100-
acre Crane Prairie to the north, and Wickiup’s
10,000 acres to the south. Both provide the
boat angler with excellent chances for brown
and rainbow trout, and kokanee. Crane
Prairie also has
largemouth
bass, bluegill,
and crappie.
Brook trout,
whitefish and
chub are found
in Wickup’s
colder waters.
Both have
campgrounds
and boat
launches. A
resort is on the
northeast shore
of Crane Prairie.
Wickiup has no
resort, but the
Twin Lakes Resort
is only a stone’s
throw to the
north. Crane Prairie
Reservoir is known
for its trophy
rainbow trout, and
Wickiup for its large
brown trout.
(43.7837, -121.8054
and 43.6884, -121.7153)
Haystack Reservoir
– south of Madras and
east of U.S. 97 – is popular for watersports as
well as fishing.There are two campgrounds
(one is closed during the winter months) and
a boat launch. Fish include brown and
rainbow trout, kokanee, bass, and crappie.
(44.4979, -121.1464)
Lake Billy Chinook
is formed by the power-
producing Round Butte Dam, and is
essentially located in deep canyons at the
confluence of three important rivers –
Crooked, Deschutes, and Metolius. Although
it’s only 4,000 acres in size, there are more
than 70 miles of shoreline at full pool.
Campgrounds and boat launches are
available in each “arm” of the reservoir. Access
is best from Culver. It’s best known for its
trophy bull trout. (44.5962, -121.2855)
Hop over Round Butte Dam and you’re on
the upper end of
Lake Simtustus
, formed by
another power-producing dam, Pelton. It’s
only 500 acres in surface area, but seven
miles in length, with both campgrounds and
a small RV park found along its shores. Fish
include kokanee, rainbow and brown trout,
and steelhead. (44.6870, -121.2386)
Located just east of Prineville along U.S.
126 is
Ochoco Reservoir,
a 1,200-acre pool
sporting rainbow trout, bass, brown bullhead,
and black crappie. Success can be had from
either shore or boat. Both state and private
campgrounds are located along the north
shore and north of the highway. (44.3024, -
120.6992)
Rivers
Along with the previously-mentioned
Crooked River
, popular and important rivers
include the Deschutes River, meandering
from Little Lava Lake
to Bend, Fall River, and
Metolius River.
The
Deschutes
River
is often broken
into three segments –
from Little Lava Lake
to Wickiup Reservoir
(segment 1), from
Wickiup Reservoir to
Sunriver (segment
2), and from Sunriver
to Bend (segment
3). Each has its own
characteristics.
Campgrounds
abound along each.
Segment 1
(43.86742, -
121.7795) is a
small, cold stream,
best accessed
from the Cascade
Lakes Highway.
The main catch is
trout – rainbow,
brown, and brook
– but whitefish
are also present.
BelowWickiup Reservoir, segment 2
(43.7597, -121.5828) becomes a slower and
more powerful stream featuring brown and
rainbow trout. Access is from various Forest
Service roads, and boat launches provide the
opportunity to use drift boats – a preferred
method to fish. Segment 3 (43.9342, -
121.4091) offers both brown and rainbow
trout, as well as whitefish, in a swift, often
treacherous river. Consult locals for the best
access to the productive portions.
Fall River
, a tributary of the Deschutes, is
near South Century Drive, and its crystal-
clear waters provide great fishing for
rainbow, brook and brown trout, as well as
whitefish. Access is best above and below
the fish hatchery. (43.7990, -121.5764)
The clear-blue water of the
Metolius River
offers good, yet challenging, fly fishing for
rainbow and bull trout, kokanee, and
whitefish.The upper half or so of this 20-mile
river is accessed from a county road near its
eastern shore. Access to the lower portion is
more difficult via backcountry roads and
trails. Camp Sherman, near the headwaters,
offers a full array of services, and is a good
jumping-off location. (44.46073, -121.64335)
. . . made special
OPEN: 7 a.m. - 3 p.m.
341 N Main St. • Prineville
541-416-5803
Breakfast
&
Lunch
Sean Sartell
(541) 447-4939
449 NW 3rd St., Ste A
PRINEVILLE
34 • THINGS TO DO 2013
