Oregon Kokanee?

[tortuga]

We live in Sonora, Ca and are thinking of taking a road trip to Oregon this summer. I'm a teacher and my wife Froggie just retired so we can do an extended trip.

We fish for koke A LOT in Cal and have done Flaming Gorge, Navajo Lake in NM, lakes all over Cal but have never headed north.

I was just wondering which lake you guys think we should hit first?

We will be driving a 30 foot motor-home and towing our 19' Fish-Rite. We are totally rigged...we're just not sure where we wanna go?

Any opinions will be greatly appreciated.
See you out there,
Tortuga

 

[DLM]

You did not say how soon you may be making this trip, but let's assume it is within the next month.

The biggest fish to be had in Oregon for sure are from Wickiup Reservoir just east of La Pine Oregon. There are two other good kokanee lakes in the area, Crescent and Odell. Crescent and Odell are both on Hwy 58 and fairly close together. Wickiup is about a 35 minute drive north of Crescent.


Odell has a great resort, Shelter Cove, where they will launch and/or load your boat for you and have plenty of moorage.

Wickiup has a 25 fish limit as does Odell. I believe Crescent is a 5 fish lake.

Later is in the season, say about late July, it has been reported that Wickiup fish start to taste a little "muddy" but I have not found this to be the case.

There are threads on this forum for each of the lakes, do some reading and see what is working where.

 

[sheepdog-dad]

Head over to hwy 97 visit Crater Lake, then head up to Newberry Crater. Paulina, and East Lakes, would be good starts. All kinds of neat stuff to see in the area. Have fun!

 

[calamari]

Coming from Calif. be sure and check into getting your invasive species sticker and inspection at the border. Here's a link:

http://www.dfw.state.or.us/conservationstrategy/invasive_species.asp

http://www.dfw.state.or.us/conserva... Watercraft Inspection Stations in Oregon.pdf

 

[rainORsnow1]

You're in for a treat as you will find most of our best lakes are somewhat close together. Bend, Or area if you will.
My recommendations is hit as many as possible. They're all a little different and absolutely beautiful.
My list to you would be in this order and could be made in a loop of sorts.
Like listed above check out the sites at crater and head up to newbury crater.(fishing in a volcano is so cool!)
Head over and hit wickiup,crescent and Odell and swing over and hit my kokanee home waters green peter reservoir.

Wickiup in my opinion is a must fish lake. The fish run 14"-20" and are extremely frantic fighters and jumpers. You won't be dissapointed.
Good luck! Please let us know how it goes.

 

[skyhammer]

Coming from Calif. be sure and check into getting your invasive species sticker and inspection at the border. Here's a link:

http://www.dfw.state.or.us/conservationstrategy/invasive_species.asp

http://www.dfw.state.or.us/conserva... Watercraft Inspection Stations in Oregon.pdf

I just got back from fishing Paulina and East Lake and it is the same as it has been for the last several years, ie no inspection. It could be that because I enter Oregon on 199, where there is no port of entry for Oregon. The only thing I do is buy the invasive species permit when I buy my license. I always have the Sheriff inspect my boat and get their sticker, they do ask to see my permit.
The only problems I have had is trying get back to Calif. I spent 6 hours two years ago and the entry point before they let back into Calif. One year it took so long I turned around and took the back road near Cave Junction into Calif, just to avoid hassle.