RussWright63 Loc: Sunriver, OR

I was thinking of heading out to Wickiup Res in Central OR this weekend and was curious if anyone had been out there yet and how they did. Believe it just opened a couple of weeks ago. Any feedback?

Manuel Garcia Loc: Bend, Oregon

The report I read is fantastic… get there they are big and plenty all categories, kokes, rainbows and browns and they have full bellies, have fun…

RussWright63 Loc: Sunriver, OR

Awesome, thanks!

vicster52

where did you read that report? Water level is 60%. As of last week, there were NO kokes or trout. A few brown bites, very few. Did they stock it or something in the past week?

finley1 Loc: beaverton oregon

Wickiup doesn't receive trout stocking, at least not that I've ever heard of. I can't ever remember seeing it listed in ODFW's trout stocking schedule. I could be wrong though. It wouldn't be the first time today. The only species I've ever heard of being there are brown trout, kokenee, and resident rainbows, and the occasional bass which were either illegally planted or migrated down stream from Crane Prairie where they were illegally planted a few years ago.

vicster52

I googled it. They planted it on April 10th. I'm going tomorrow. Wish us luck.

RussWright63 Loc: Sunriver, OR

Ought to be a great day! 👍 Wish I could head out!

finley1 Loc: beaverton oregon

Hello, Vicster. I sure would like to know where that report is coming from. As of April 18th, Wickiup was still partially frozen over and the roads in were still snowed over. The road into Gull Point usually doesn't get plowed and stocking trucks will not travel over a snowed-in road. North and South Twin as well as Crane Prairie were also still frozen over. It's reasonable to assume the roads are passable by now and the lakes are reasonably ice-free, but I doubt they were able to stock Wickiup on April 10th. I hope you made it there okay and had a good trip. Let us know when you get back how everything went. Some of us are pretty curious. It can be a really great time to be there this time of year! Good luck and tight lines!

vicster52

A google search said it had been stocked although we couldn't fid it on the ODF site. We were up there yesterday. All lakes are frost free. Roads free of snow. We were going to fish but the docks are not in. There were 4 boat trailers in the lot and one boat having a heck of a time lauching as it was hung up on the walkway between the ramps. We don't want to destry our boat so we left. Tried the launch at the campgrounds across from Twin Lakes resort. It's just the lake end shoreline and we have used it before. Not now though. They have lined it with logs so you can't launch there. It's quite shallow now with the lake 60% full. The othe boat ramp isn't open yet. I did see fish surfacing though, a good sign. We gave up on Wickiup 3 years ago after, we were told
The gates were mistakenly left open and fish dumped out with the water. And as they start releasing water as soon as the lake starts to fill , it's ridiculous to drive up there any more. I don't know abou you, but it seems fish don't bite when you change their comfort zone by constantly letting water out. Wish they'd quit messing with Crescent lake. It's so beautiful but so dry. We will be at Paulina soon as the road opens. Good luck fishing. If you fish these central Oregon lakes, please post. My favorite is Diamond. You can check the lake cam there to see the thaw level and we check road cam to see road conditions going in.

finley1 Loc: beaverton oregon

Hello again, Vicster! I've just finished reading a couple reports for Wickiup and all I can say is, what a mess! The season is starting off with low water as usual.....Gull Point Campground is closed this year for repairs, (water and sanitation), and all boat ramps are closed for the season to remove timber and debris. Fishing is again suffering because of the total misuse and management of water, and of course the draught. It all sounds like doom-and-gloom right now, but I still have small hopes for the area, (including the Deschute River below the dam), if a few people can figure out how to rectify and manage the situation and figure out how to cooperate. But, this probably won't happen in my lifetime, I'm sorry to say. I'll probably never go back to this area again.....So sad.....It used to be the favorite of family and close friends.....Not any more.....

vicster52

We retired here for the lakes. Three of our favorites are no longer viable. East lake is losing water and the weed growth seems to have taken over. Wickiup and Crescent a mess. As you say, misuse of water management is killing our lakes and fish populations. Paulina has become so popular since covid, that it is also no where near what it was 4 years ago. Oregon needs a complete change of leadership.

vicster52

Spoke with someone at Bend Fort Rock Ranger district who said they are going out to assess the lakes and determine if they will install docks. They will check Wickiup also. So maybe they'll install them. Don't know yet. By the time they assess it, the water will probably be gone again.