To get there, enter the town of Sisters by way of Hwy. 20 from Bend, and then turn left on Elm Street. The road is paved for the first 15 miles and turns to well maintained gravel for the final two miles. The creeks and streams along the way provide some excellent opportunities for brook trout and provide a serene setting not found elsewhere in the state.

Chickahominy Reservoir
This butt-ugly lake out in the middle of nowhere is a favorite of many visiting and local anglers alike. You do not go to Chickahominy for peaceful, serene settings - it's hot, windy and barren of any trees or shade. In addition, the lake is 100 miles east of Bend right off of Hwy. 20E. Why do fishermen flock here? BIG Klamath Strain Rainbows - and lots of them! Fly anglers do well with black, purple or orange Wooly-Buggers, while the bait angler's choices include rainbow Power Bait and inflated night crawlers.

Sparks Lake
PSST! It's a secret! Wanna get away from it all and score on some beautiful Cutthroat and Brook trout? How about catching those fish in an area where you can drop your camera, and still get a great picture?

Sparks Lake is a 400 acre natural lake managed as a "fly only, catch and release" fishery just west of Bend. The fish tend to be small (10-18 inches), but receives little pressure due to the fly only designation and the proximity to other more infamous waters. Motors are not allowed and pontoons, tubes or canoes add to the peacefulness of the setting. Views of Mt. Bachelor, Broken Top and South Sister will make you forget that you came here to fish!

Lava Lake
A locals favorite and for good reason. Limits are the norm for planted and hold over rainbows that range from 8" to 6 pounds. All methods work here, from fly to Velveeta Cheese. This spring fed lake grows fish fast and the water clarity requires light, long leaders. A boat or other floating device is helpful, as reeds dominate the shoreline. Lava Lake is packed with people during the summer months, especially the holidays. But if you can handle the crowds, you'll be in for some excellent angling!

Rivers

Crooked River
Fairly consistent for native rainbows in the 8" - 16" range. Most action is coming during the midday Caddis hatches, which have varied in intensity dependent on the weather. Elk hair Caddis (12-16) and Orange scud patterns as well as black bead head AP's size 14-16 are the old stand bye's for consistent success.

Deschutes River
Salmon flies and Golden Stones are done, but go prepared for the awesome Caddis hatches that have begun now that the weather is finally started to warm. Fly selection for a trip up here should include Humpy and Tent wing Caddis in sizes 8 -12 which will provide some great dry fly action. A Beadhead AP, Prince nymph, or Soft hackle fished between hatches will produce as well.

Lakes

Paulina/East Lakes
The Kokanee have started to school up and finding them is the ticket to success. Trolling with Cowbells and wedding rigs tipped with white corn has produced some fairly good size fish this week (up to 2 lbs), while jigging Nordics or Buzz Bombs on top of the schools has produced as well. Either find the fish on your depth finder, or look for the armada of boats that always seem to materialize on either lake.

Big Browns are still hammering slow trolling jointed or floating Rapalas trolled 100-125ft behind the boat. Troll early or late or all day if it's overcast. Wind drifting the weed lines and casting a Rapala or Mepps over the tops of the weed beds will produce as well. Fly fishing is picking up at East Lake, with the best area right now near the hot springs and in front of the resort. Between hatches, slow troll a rubber leg stone fly nymph or AP Beadhead on a floating line near the weeds.

Davis
The catches have been huge - beautiful Klamath strain rainbows have been running 2-8 pounds! Callibaetis are popping consistently and fishing emergers just under the surface has been the ticket for some great action all day. If the wind is up, throw a bead head wooly bugger on a type II full sink line and retrieve with rapid six-inch pulls all the way back to the boat.

Crane Prairie
Finally with the warming weather, things are becoming a little more predictable. The fly angling is starting to heat up. Damsel imitations or Bead Head Wooly buggers stripped quickly back to the boat have taken some good fish this past week, but the fish continue to be very scattered. Target shallow water areas with fly or bait methods.

Hosmer
Still fishing strong! The Atlantics are hungry and are attacking anything - from white/chartreuse streamers to Callibaetis nymphs. Caddis patterns have been consistent producers in the evening in addition to the Callibaetis.

Warmwater
The John Day is River access from Kimberly to Clarno is excellent for the wadding angler. Drift grubs or small plastics through the pools and tail outs or toss small crankbaits and Rapalas and Hang On! Bass fishing in the Cascade Lakes area is slowing a bit with the warmer weather. Fish Yamamoto Senkos in the brush and trees. Senkos, Exude B-A-Hawgs or lizards are top plastics, while spinnerbaits and jerkbaits are cashing in for the reaction bite.

Up coming!!
Get ready, the Summer Run Steelhead will be showing in the Lower Deschutes in about two weeks! Best success for this early season bite is in the Biggs area from Heritage Landing to Kloan. Parking is at the mouth, then a hike or bike upstream to the runs and pools throughout this seven-mile stretch. Classic Greased Line or Wet Fly Swing methods produce bone-jarring strikes from silver torpedoes averaging 6-9 pounds! As soon as the sun hits the water, switch to #4 Mepps and concentrate on the heads of the pools or deep runs in this section of the river. More on the river and methods will be featured here soon - make your plans now!

The Central Oregon Grand Slam? How does catching a Summer Run Steelhead, Atlantic salmon, Cutthroat, Brookie, Rainbow and Brown Trout all in one-day sound? I'll tell you how it can be done next week, right here on the Fishsniffer Online!

If you would like a personal report for an up coming trip, feel free to email me at - Oregonsportsman@cs.com.

Have a safe weekend and See you on the water!
Last Week