Central / southern OR lakes

I am looking to do 3-4 days of camping and fishing some lakes next week. I thought I might try out Odell, Crescent, and Diamond Lakes. I would really like to find some Kokanee but some nice rainbows at Diamond Lake would be fun too.

Any experience from my fellow kayak fisherman on how to have a good experience at these lakes and maybe even find some fish from my kayak?  Locations, tackle, campsites etc?

Any tips will be much appreciated!

Dave

I would watch the wind forecast for Odell especially. It can be unfishable at times, even for boats. I had good luck Mackinaw fishing there last summer. Ive been hearing the kokanee fishing is good right now. There are usually current reports for Odell on the Ifish.net forum.

Thanks much Merz.  I know the wind can be nasty on Odell and I am watching for it. I hope to fish an evening  and then another morning before moving along to the next lake. I am hopeful to find calm water during these times. Is there any chance of water right to the campsite where I could launch right from camp into good fishing water? Thanks, Dave

Yep. I stayed at the Princess creek campground and had a site right on the water. Its nice to just drag your kayak up next to your tent at night, and crawl out of you tent in the morning and into your kayak. There is a drop-off straight out from the campground that is a popular spot for both Kokanee and Mackinaw fishing.

That sounds perfect for what I am looking for. I will see if I can find any spaces along the lake. Thanks!

Shelter Cove Marina is another easy launch place for kayaks (on the west end of Odell).  I think they are charging $5 for boat launches this year.  Odell Lake Lodge is on the east end of Odell Lake (not quite the mecca for kokanee on that end), but you can rent a room in the Lodge and they have food -- pretty nice option for camping when the temperatures look like they are below freezing at night.  I wish the Forest Service would open Trapper Creek campground in early May - that is one of my favorite kayak camp destinations.

Also, don't overlook the cascade lakes basin.  Crane Prarie, Wickiup, Cultus, Lava, Davis....  How long did you say your trip was??

Have FUN!  Might see you out there! 

I like Theilson View campground on Diamond lake, loop A if it is open. Easy launch from sites. No rocks  like in the Diamond Lake campground on the east side.

Hi bb2fish. I think I will have from about noon Monday till about noon Thursday as I work my way south down highways 58 and 97.  I figured it would be a perfect chance to experience these lakes with a bit of camping and kayak fishing. Odell, Crescent, an Diamond lakes all have good reputations and are along my way.

Well, my intentions were good but 5000+ foot elevations and mid May eft me vulnerable to Mother Nature. After getting pounded relenlessly for two days, I hung it up and headed for home. As it turns out, kayak fishing in horizontal snow isn't as much fun as you would think. Here is my kayak after yesterday evening on Odell Lake. No Kokanee were harmed in the making of this photo.

Is that Odell creek?  Great light in the shot.  Sorry Odell wasn't productive for you.  It's definitely a place where you have to pick your weather window.  When everything comes together it's one of my favorite lakes to fish.  I went down two weeks ago and did ok.

Odell campgrounds are nice, as are a few unimproved sites available there and up the road at Davis, Wickiup and Crane.

I could spend a month in Central Oregon and never fish the same location twice.   I'd love to own a cabin near La Pine.

I guess it's a little late now, but if you ever drive from Odell down to Diamond stop off at Miller Lake on the way.  Cool lake with a great termite hatch that brings big browns to the surface.

Snopro, that was Trapper Creek on Odell Lake. I agree there are so many options in Central Oregon. I haven't tried Miller Lake yet but hear good things about it. I will definitely do it sometime!