Kayak Car Camping

The recent post about kayak camping got me thinking about a trip I've been wanting to make with my son Owen during his summer break.  I'd like to spend about a week (5-7 days) car camping and kayak fishing my way across Oregon catching as many types of fish as possible.  Basically, how many AOTY points can we rack up in a week while experiencing this beautiful state. 

Right now I'm thinking of hitting central and eastern Oregon (i.e. places that are new to me), but that means I'm also not sure where to go.   If I could limit the camping to three or four spots and hit multiple lakes at each spot, I think that would be preferable to having to break down and setting up camp every day.

Does anyone have any suggestions on kayak fishing and camping itineraries I might consider as I try to plan this out?

Thanks,
Brian

La Pine state park gives you access to multiple lakes in the central area east of Eugene, you can access, Odell, Crescent, Davis, Wickiup, Crane Prairie, East and Paulina lakes, plus portions of the Deschutes. Check the regs carefully, at times the parts of the Deschutes is off limits to fishing from a watercraft. IMHO La Pine state park is far better than any of the commercial campgrounds.

Should you decide to go to the west of Hwy 5, there are lots of great bass/trout fishing down closer to the coast, plus the Umpqua has some nice fishing, not all can be floated, but most can.

Good luck and enjoy

John

I would agree with Cdat on the cascade lakes. You can camp in one spot and have all of those lakes within about a 30 minute drive. Lots of trophy fish of different species. Crane has big Cranebows, Bass, and Kokes up to 20+ inches. Wickiup also has the big Kokanee and bass. Odell has huge Macks and lots of average sized Kokes. Davis has nice wild trout and big bass but is fly fishing only. Big browns at East lake. Lots of other lakes in the same area. I'd like to spend a whole month over there sometime.

You could head way east and fish Mann lake, which is the only place in Oregon to find Lahontan Cutthroat (same as Omak lake in Washington). Then hit Owyhee reservoir for some big Bass, Catfish, and Crappie. Its over 80 miles long with little road access. Below the dam is one of the best Brown trout fisheries in the country. Not sure if the river is big enough to float though. Snake river has big catfish and monster sturgeon. I think the state record catfish came out of Brownlee reservoir and the previous record smallmouth.  I've  been deer hunting over in that area most of my life. I brought my kayak with me last time, but never got a chance to use it. Someday I will take a fishing-only trip over there.


If it were me, and I had 5-7 days, I would find a campsite on the water at Odell or Crane and spend the whole time fishing Odell, Crescent, Wickiup, Crane prairie, and maybe Davis if you fly fish. Then maybe drive north a bit and catch a Bull trout at Lake Billie Chinook, which I think is the only lake in Oregon that allows retention.

Hosmer lake is a nice place for kayaking (fly only no motors) and it's stocked with Atlantic salmon

Hosmer lake is a nice place for kayaking (fly only no motors) and it's stocked with Atlantic salmon

Not any more.  Rainbows and Cutts only stocked now.  Also some really nice naturally reproducing brookies.

I agree with Evan on where to camp.  Wickiup also has some good unimproved camping right on the water.  Just don't camp on the weekend if you're looking for quiet.

Thanks for the tips, I think the cascade lakes would be ideal.  Sounds like there are just about every kind of trout to fish for.   I'm still working out the timing of other family vacations and various summer day camps for my son.  Hopefully I"ll make this trip happen.

Bug spray, take lots of bug spray!