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Oregon · Fishing
Crescent Lake sits in the Deschutes National Forest at a high-elevation basin that holds fish year-round, though most anglers show up between late spring and early fall when the roads are clear and the water warms enough to get fish moving.
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Crescent Lake sits in the Deschutes National Forest at a high-elevation basin that holds fish year-round, though most anglers show up between late spring and early fall when the roads are clear and the water warms enough to get fish moving. The lake itself is the main draw, but the surrounding area gives you a few other options worth knowing about: Odell Lake, a short drive away, holds lake trout, kokanee salmon, rainbow trout, and bull trout at 4,787 feet, and Summit Lake and Suzanne Lake round out the local fishing if you want to explore beyond the main basin. Crescent Lake is large enough that shore fishing and boat fishing both produce results depending on the season and what you're targeting. Access is generally straightforward — the lake has a developed boat ramp and a campground nearby, which makes it a practical base for a multi-day trip rather than just a day visit. If you're planning around specific species or timing, it helps to check current ODFW regulations before you go, since rules around bull trout in particular can vary and are worth confirming ahead of time.
Odell Lake, a short drive from Crescent Lake, is documented to hold lake trout, kokanee salmon, rainbow trout, and bull trout. Crescent Lake, Summit Lake, and Suzanne Lake are all active fishing destinations in the area, though you should check current ODFW reports for species-specific conditions before your trip.
Late spring through early fall is the most accessible window, once snow has cleared from the access roads. Early morning and evening tend to be the most productive times of day at high-elevation lakes like these, when surface temperatures are cooler and fish are more active near the shallows.
Crescent Lake
~3 min drive
A worthwhile stop near OR.
Odell Lake
~11 min drive
Easy
Hosmer Lake
~1h 4m drive
Moderate
North Umpqua River - Steamboat
~1h 5m drive
Hard
Suzanne Lake
~7 min drive
A worthwhile stop near OR.
Crane Prairie Reservoir
~42 min drive
Easy
Summit Lake
~8 min drive
A worthwhile stop near OR.
Midnight Lake
~13 min drive
A worthwhile stop near OR.
Happy Lake
~15 min drive
A worthwhile stop near OR.
Happy Lake
~15 min drive
A worthwhile stop near OR.
Gold Lake
~18 min drive
A worthwhile stop near OR.
Gold Lake Bog
~19 min drive
A worthwhile stop near OR.
Also worth it near here
Crescent Lake is large enough that a boat or kayak opens up significantly more water, but shore fishing is workable, especially in early season when fish are shallower. Odell Lake similarly has areas accessible from shore, though trolling is a common approach for lake trout and kokanee there.
For Odell Lake's lake trout and kokanee, trolling gear with downriggers or lead-core line is useful since these species often run deep in summer. For rainbow trout at Crescent and the smaller lakes like Summit and Suzanne, a medium spinning or fly rod with standard trout presentations works well. Bring a valid Oregon fishing license and check whether a combined angling tag is required for any species you're targeting.
Bull trout are present in Odell Lake and are a protected species in Oregon, so it's important to know how to identify them and understand current catch-and-release rules before you fish there. Regulations can change season to season, so check the ODFW Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations for the Deschutes Zone before your trip rather than relying on last year's rules.
