Hello, Fixor.....I totally agree with your assessment! The new format pretty much stinks! There's virtually nothing to read from Oregon anymore. It's great to hear from other parts of the country, but pretty much none of what is here has anything to do with our area. So I say, WHO CARES?!!!!! The majority of what is entered here is mainly about bass fishing anyway---again, WHO CARES?!!!!!

Bluegill? Well now, that is strange! There's already illegally introduced bass. What's next--snapping turtles? Allegator Gar? Well, so much for the premier trout fishery it used to be. It really is a shame.....

I did take a couple breaths and I'm just fine. No worries, I'm good. But, we'll probably never hear from Verne again. Too bad. These forums need everybody they can get, don't they? For some of us, this may be the only daily adult conversation we get--at least with others where we share common interests.

Or possibly being scared off by the sarcasm and bullying had something to do with it. We're all for good natured humor, (trout at Haystack Rock--good one), but that aside, I'm pretty sure we know he meant Haystack Reservoir. I'd do the same thing if I sensed an unfriendly atmosphere and response to one of my posts. I'd probably back off and disappear. I don't see it as one bit rude. Just a person who probably chooses not to waste time with a bully. Have a great day!

Geez Fixor, lighten up a little.....Nobody's perfect.

Hello, Steve, and welcome! I don't know where you are in central Oregon, but central Oregon is a MECCA FOR FISHING OPPERTUNITIES in our great state. If you're into fly fishing, the Crooked River and the Upper Deschutes River are prime locations. And, there are so many lakes and reservoirs with reputations for excellent fishing, it could take a lifetime to explore them all. Just about all of these places are within an hour of Bend.....Crane Prairle, Wickiup Reservoir (when the water is at a good level), North and South Twin Lakes, Odell Lake, Cresent Lake (when the water is at a good level), East and Paulina Lakes, Big and Little Lava Lakes, Davis Lake (primarily bass and fly fishing only).
The list is almost endless, and I've only listed a few of the best. I would suggest googling some of these places to find out different details about things like what time of year fishing is decent (usually spring and fall are better because of cooler weather), what the fish are hitting on at a particular time, and water levels in the paticular areas you're more interested in. I'm pretty sure you already know all this, so I hope I'm not wasting your time. Bare in mind that the Water Reclamation Bureau likes to play around with the water levels in the main rivers and reservoirs in the area to keep the farmers in the area happy. It's always an ongoing battle but it's been pretty tough with the last few years of drought in the area. Also, don't forget to really study your FISHING REGULATIONS for the Central Oregon area. Just about every body of water has some rule or regulation that's different from the next. And the ODFW rule enforcers take their jobs very seriously! Don't get caught not knowing the rules. The regulations are free and available at just about all the area tackle shops and retailers like Fred Meyers, Bimart, or pretty much any place that sells tackle. Also, I have more than once googled a site called "Best Fishing in America" for a place or two I've wanted to try, and have found it to be pretty helpful sometimes. Remember, Steve, you are now a resident of one of the best fishing areas anywhere, so make a friend with one of the locals, really study and learn about the area, help take care of it, and above all have fun with it. Some of the most fun you can have now is in the research! Good luck and tight lines!

Can't find "Oregan" on a map. Try Google and enter "Lost Creek Reservoir" in OREGON. Something helpful should come up.

Several years ago, a friend of mine at the time, (who shall remain nameless and has since passed on), tried to do something different to catch a wild redside trout on the Lower Deschutes River. The rules of this river only allow single point barbless hooks and artificial flies and lures...No bait allowed, and certainally no chumming..........
Rule #1 broken---night fishing for trout is illegal in Oregon. It was just after midnight.
Rule #2 broken---hanging a lantern on an over-hanging tree branch next to the river bank. Illegal to use artificial light to attract trout on this river.
Rule #3 broken---baiting a 1/0 barbed treble hook with a 1/2 dozen nightcrawlers and dropping the baited hook a few feet off the river bank. Bait is not allowed on this section of the Deschutes.
Rule #4 broken---Illegal hook type and hook size. Remember, single point barbless hooks only, and no more than 5/8" width between the point and the hook's shank.
Rule #5 broken---absolutely no chumming! He dumped a 2 pound can of B&M pork and beans right next to the nightcrawlers! This was an absolute shock to all of us! And, it wasn't until he did this that the rest of us even noticed that he wasn't in our immediate camp and was up to something. This is when we asked and he told us what he was doing.
Rule #6 broken---Leaving the fishing rod unattended. Enough said on this. This is when he returned to the table where the rest of us were playing cards.
*Needless to say, some or all of us pleaded and practically begged him to stop what he was doing. We all knew that what he was doing was illegal and just plain wrong. And after about 15 minutes, he finally pulled everything down and put it all away. But I have to tell you, what he was doing scared the living crap out of the rest of us---to the point that a few of us decided to hit the sack because we were too scared to be any where near it. I'm pretty sure that some of you have heard that line, "one day we'll all remember this and look back on it and laugh about it". Well even now, 40 or so years later, the few of us who are left don't really laugh too hard when we talk about it. Except maybe the fact that he dumped about half of our next night's dinner into the river! What a Putz!
*I only remember this story when I hear or see the word "chum" or "chumming". And that seems to be fairly often on these pages. So, I guess all I can say about that is "thanks a lot" for making me remember something that apparently really affected me, and to let you all know that you will never, ever see me chumming for anything?

Try adding a pinch of oregano and basil. On the other hand, maybe what you're trying to catch isn't of Italian heritage. Sorry about that, I couldn't resist.

Sorry, not weels=====WEEKS. About 4 more weeks.

Give it about another four weels or so. Get down there near the coastal tide waters or at least in the lower part of the river. You'll find them. Leave those small "trout" as you call them alone. They're not trout. They're salmon/steelhead smolts. Leave them alone!

Hello garthelsdon.....If you're talking about hatchery trout, then no, they don't "dump hatchery trout" in the Wilson River. The "minnows" are probaby Salmon or Steelhead fry or smolts. PLEASE BE CAREFUL! They are the future of this river. The trout might be searun cuthroat from last season's hatch. Again, please be careful! As far as I know, there are no hatchery garbage trout released in the Wilson River. Respect the river!

ryanstroud31, take a look at this website for Loon Lake.....

bestfishinginamerica.com/or-loon-lake-fishing-oregon.html

Hello, Anniepie.....From the photo you posted, and your wonderful description, it sounds like a truly remarkable place! Aren't we lucky to have places like this where we can just relax and enjoy what the good Lord has given us? Peace to you, Young Lady, and good for you for getting out and taking advantage of it! I can't wait for a couple of my buddies to retire this year so I can have somebody to get outside with more often and enjoy the great outdoors. Getting a line wet without a few of my friends is starting to get a little old. Good catching and tight lines!

That's a really good question, FixorFish! Here in Oregon, we actually have 11 lakes named "Clear Lake". Not to mention 8 lakes named "Fish Lake". So much for a lack of imagination, right? But, we only have 2 "Lost Lakes", another popular name in other states, but not so much here I guess. However, one of those Lost Lakes actually disappears every year in early summer by draining out through a large sink hole. The Fish and Wildlife people actually stock hatchery trout there once or twice each spring. It kind of makes me wonder how many fish are living in some underground stream somewhere.....hmmmm