THINGS TO DO
Fishing, Rafting & Kayaking, Horseback Riding & Hiking, Mountain Biking, Skiing
Tourists are attracted to the region by recreational activities that include hunting, fishing, swimming, sailing, canoeing, water skiing, wind surfing, backpacking, camping, golfing, mountain biking, white water rafting, spelunking, downhill skiing, cross country skiing, and snowmobiling.
The 1.6 million acre Deschutes National Forest, just a few miles from La Pine, includes Newberry National Volcanic Monument, the Lava Butte Geological Area and the Lava Cast Forest, Mt. Jefferson, Three Sisters, Diamond Peak and Mt Washington wilderness areas, Mt. Bachelor, and the Cascade Lakes region. Recreation activities include rafting, hiking, backpacking, skiing, spelunking, fishing, camping and picnicking. There are more than 158 lakes and reservoirs, over 100 campgrounds and over 240 miles of streams in the national forest. An 89 mile paved driving tour takes you past spectacular views of many mountain lakes and streams, as well as a view of the Three Sisters peaks
The Deschutes River, is the ideal spot for swimming, boating, picnicking, and hiking. Fly casting for brown and rainbow trout in the Deschutes River is also a favorite pastime. The largest Ponderosa pine in Oregon, known as the "Big Tree", is located in the LaPine park. It is 191 feet high, and has a circumference of 326 inches.
Fascinating geology, excellent fishing, hiking and camping, panoramic scenic views and more are waiting for you at La Pine.
The over 50,000 acre Newberry National Volcanic Monument includes lava flows, hiking trails, lakes and a wide range of volcanic deposits and features. Paulina and East Lakes both have boat landings and great fishing for rainbow trout, kokanee salmon and brown trout.
Hikers can enjoy over 150 miles of trails in the monument, including a trail around Paulina Lake, and the Peter Skene Ogden Trail, which parallels Pauline Creek. Many of the trails are used by cross country skiers and snowmobilers during the winter season.
- Travel to Crater Lake for scenic views, hiking, golf in La Pine or in nearby Bend, hiking/fishing
at Paulina Peak, skiing nearby at Mt. Bachelor. This cabin provides many opportunities for relaxing
and for activities both in the winter and in the summer.
- Close to La Pine and just south of Bend, there is wonderful shopping and dining. Of course there is nearby golfing, skiing, snowmobiling, fishing and hunting. Check out the list of Central Oregon activities for more information.
- Mt. Bachelor, Oregon’s premier ski area is within an hours drive,and the Deschutes National forest, which our home sits in the middle of; offers wonderful outdoor activities, including golf, fishing, kayaking, hiking, skiing, snowmobiling, canoeing and rafting. The area is dotted with lakes and surrounded by geological points of interest, including Fort Rock and Newberry Crater, one of the most recent volcanoes within the contiguous United States, featuring cinder cones, twisted lava, and year-around ice caves.
- High Desert Museum http://www.highdesertmuseum.com
- Wickiup Reservoir is one mile from our home http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/centraloregon/recreation/fishing/lake-reservoir/wickiup.shtml
Wickiup Reservoir
 The reservoir covers an area on the Deschutes River which was known as the Wickiup's. It was a camping area for Native Americans during the fall. Wickiup Dam was started in 1939, and was completed in 1949. Wickiup Reservoir is very rich, highly productive, relatively warm water and cooler deep channels generate some of the finest fishing in Central Oregon. Wickiup is renowned for its brown trout over 20 pounds and normal catches in the 5 to 8 pound range. Many large brown trout are brought into Twin Lakes Resort to be weighed and photographed, but most people never see the largest fish they hook. Long distance releases are routine. Wickiup also has a reputation for good numbers of kokanee and coho salmon and decent populations of rainbow trout, brook trout, whitefish, and the unwanted chub. Large numbers of fishermen and women are entertained here each year. At full pool, Wickiup Reservoir covers 10,000 acres and is the largest of all the Cascade lakes. Located along the Deschutes River, it is the second irrigation reservoir on the Deschutes, about six miles downriver from Crane Prairie Reservoir.
The largest trout each year are usually caught the first two weeks of fishing season when the big browns are ravenous after a long winter under the ice. There are some true giants in here; a former state record brown trout from Wickiup weighed 24 pounds, 14 ounces. A brown trout caught opening day of 1998 weighed over 26 pounds. Larry Marecek of Salem caught the monster brown using a rainbow-colored Rapala. They are mostly natural reproduction, although fingerlings are stocked every spring. Numbers are excellent.
There are anglers here whose lives are dedicated solely to fishing for the brown trout at Wickiup. One should try using lures or plugs that imitate fleeing baitfish to entice these predatory browns.
Wickiup experiences extreme water fluctuations due to irrigation draw downs. Over half of the reservoir's water can disappear over the fishing season. The deepest point in the reservoir, at the intersection of the Deschutes and Davis Channels, is 60 feet maximum depth. Heavy draw downs and very low water does not seem to have any adverse effect on the fishery. In fact, the brown trout may be even fatter after having their finny food source concentrated for them.
A boat is necessary to fish most effectively at Wickiup, although early in the season shore fishers do all right. The best boat ramp is at the west end of Gull Point Campground with another good one just east of the campground. The character of the shoreline at Wickiup is as variable as the water level. At full pool, Wickiup is a beautiful, pine-edged lake, with some willows and sandy beach areas. At low water, steep soil and gravel banks drop abruptly to the water. Other banks become mucky hazards. Obstacles emerge at low water including many stumps and structures added in the Deschutes and Davis arms by ODFW.
Vehicle Access: |
Wickiup Reservoir is located about 60 miles southwest of Bend off the Cascade Lakes Highway (Forest Service Road 46). |
Fishing Access: |
campgrounds, boat ramps, and the shore. |
Launch Points: |
North Davis Creek C. G., Sheep Bridge C. G., West South Twin C. G., Gull Point C. G., Wickiup Butte C. G., Reservoir C. G. and South Twin C. G. |
Fish Species Present: |
There are brown trout, rainbow trout, brook trout, kokanee, coho, mountain whitefish, and tui chub |
Physical Characteristics: |
Size: 10334 acres; Depth: 20'-70'; Elevation: 4338' |
When/How to fish: |
Get a weekly fishing report from ODFW. Another site with information. |
Popular Fishing Methods: |
Trolling, jigging and bank fishing |
Bait/Lure Fishing Method: |
Use night crawlers, crayfish sections, red salmon eggs with white corn or white corn by itself, power bait, spinners, plugs, imitating fleeing bait fish, gold or bronze minnow imitations, dark spinners. |
Fly Fishing Methods: |
Use of sinking lines along points, ledges, and shallower areas at low light |
Insect Hatch/Flies to Use: |
Check the Wickiup Reservoir Major Hatch chart below. Use of Gold Ribbed Hares Ear, Elk Hair Caddis, and Little Summer Stonefly are flies that can be used. |
Camping Information: |
Gull Point Campground, North Davis Creek Campground, Reservoir Campground, Sheep Bridge Campground, West South Twin Campground, Wickiup Butte Campground |
Paulina Lake http://www.paulinalakelodge.com/
Twin Lakes Twin Lakes Resort
Lave Lake Lava Lake Lodge
East Lake East Lake Resort & RV Park
Newberry National Volcanic Monument http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/centraloregon/newberrynvm/ |
