Where to go fly fishing in central Oregon: Opportunities abound in fall – Here is Oregon

Rain, snow and freezing temperatures are on their way to central Oregon, but that does not mean it’s time to put away the fishing gear.

Autumn is an ideal time for wetting a line on the High Desert, as many river and lake opportunities remain for anglers throughout the fall and winter.

Here are a few options for fishing in Central Oregon this time of year.

Deschutes River upstream of Bend

During the fall, the section of the Deschutes River just below Benham Falls can offer productive fly-fishing for anglers looking to land rainbow trout, brown trout and whitefish. And anglers can often have the water virtually to themselves.

The river above Benham Falls closed to fishing on Sept. 30, but the section from Benham Falls downstream to Bend remains open year-round and offers incredible scenery in addition to the angling.

The trout in that stretch of the Deschutes range from about 6 to 12 inches, according to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, but many fish in the 14- to 18-inch range also live there.

As the irrigation canals shut down in the fall, the water drops in this section of the Deschutes, making fishing somewhat easier.

Nymphing below the surface of the water is typically the best option in autumn, but overcast days can bring blue-wing olive hatches and make dry-fly fishing an option.

Fall River

The Fall River, southwest of Bend, remains a reliable trout fishery throughout the fall and winter months each year, even when the river gets heavy pressure from crowds of anglers.

The Fall River Hatchery, about a 45-minute drive southwest from Bend, is a popular spot to fish, offering easy access to the river and many places to catch rainbow or brown trout in the 12- to 14-inch range.

Meandering serenely through meadows and pine trees southwest of Sunriver, Fall River is open to fishing all year. Because it is a spring-fed stream, its flows and temperatures do not fluctuate, and fishing remains consistent throughout the winter.

Restricted to fly angling with barbless hooks, the Fall River flows east for 8 miles from its headwaters before emptying into the Deschutes River near La Pine State Park.

Trout are visible in the calmer, clearer sections of the Fall River — including the stretch that runs past the hatchery — and often anglers will sight trout in the river and then cast to those fish. Fall River is home to rainbow trout as big as 4 to 6 pounds and brown trout up to 8 pounds.

Metolius River

The Metolius is renowned as a challenging river, but the chance to land wild rainbows and bull trout brings anglers to its banks year-round. Unlike in some other rivers, the numbers of fish in the Metolius remain consistent from summer to winter, and the river often has more insect activity during cooler autumn temperatures than other streams due to its consistent water levels and temperature, according to the ODFW.

Located just northwest of Sisters, the Metolius is restricted to catch-and-release fly-fishing with barbless hooks. Some of the best fishing is on the stretch between Wizard Falls Fish Hatchery and Bridge 99. The section upstream of Allingham Bridge closes to fishing on Oct. 31.

Rainbows on the Metolius average about 14 to 15 inches, while the bull trout average 6 to 7 pounds.

Both species are often located in deeper pools.

High Cascade lakes

Anglers still have some time to fish the high lakes before they close for the season or winter weather makes them inaccessible.

Crane Prairie Reservoir, Wickiup Reservoir and Odell Lake close to fishing for the season on Oct. 31, but most other high lakes in Central Oregon are open year-round, weather and access permitting.

The Deschutes County Road Department notes on its website (deschutes.org/road) that it will close Cascade Lakes Highway and Paulina Lake Road for the winter season on Nov. 15, leaving three-plus weeks for those who want to fish the high Cascade lakes this fall.

Paulina and East lakes — in the Newberry National Volcanic Monument east of La Pine — are a good spot for fall fishing before the snow accumulates. Big brown trout are often landed on these lakes in autumn.

The kokanee spawning in the shallows of East Lake at this time of year bring large rainbow and brown trout close to shore, providing opportunities for anglers without boats.

— Mark Morical, The Bulletin