Rob DeHarpport’s outdoor report: It’s a mixed bag, although Mackinaw fishing at Odell has been great

By ROB DeHARPPORT/For The Herald — It’s been a tough year for all because of the pandemic. It’s safe to say nearly everyone wants a return to some semblance of “normalcy.” That certainly includes all of us who enjoy our great outdoors, much of which is easily accessed from Highway 58. As reported last week, fishing success, access and camping availability remain a mixed bag two weeks into fishing season. Details revealed with each lake report as follows.

 Odell Lake-Mackinaw — Lake trout fishing is great. Kokanee success is sporadic at this point but will hopefully swing into super success mode as the weather and water temps warm. Today, May 5, the water temp was at 47 degrees, quite the change from 38 degrees two weeks ago. Access is improving for boat launching as Princess Creek boat ramp is slated to open this weekend. However, camping is a no-go at both Princess and Sunset campgrounds until the end of May. Odell Lake Resort and Shelter Cove Resort are both open and offer camping and are getting into the summer season mode.

Crescent Lake remains good for trophy Mackinaw and German browns. Few reports of kokanee success as of today. Speaking of Mackinaw, a 30-pounder was recently caught at Crescent! The road around Crescent is much improved with recent snowmelt. I drove out to Spring Campground this evening. Spring CG remains closed until later in May. Caution: there are still 2-to-3-foot snowdrifts blocking one lane in a few spots that should be gone soon. Crescent Lake Resort WILL be opened on May 14 after being closed the entire year due to COVID-19. Crescent Resort is still seeking a few employees. Give the resort a call for info to work at a place smack in the middle of paradise for the summer! Hopefully, the gate at Tranquil Cove day use area will soon open to provide another boat launching area from the beach. Water levels remain below the concrete boat ramps and most likely will throughout the summer. Crescent Lake is only 4-to-5 feet above the natural lake level. The good, bad and ugly! Low water makes boat launching tough but doable. The “good” is there is a lot more beach to enjoy! Fishing should be easier to locate with less water, right?

Davis Lake — Already very low, no reports. Sadly, it looks like it may be a mud puddle by late summer.

Wickiup water level is low and dropping fast. Currently, nearly 900 cubic feet per second (cfs) is being released from the dam, while only approximately 80 cfs is flowing in. A few nice Browns are being caught trolling Rapalas. Kokanee remain scarce at best with very, very few survivors of the last two years “draining” of the reservoir being caught.

Camping will be limited due to tree mitigation and removal at Reservoir Campground as well as Sheep Bridge Campground.  Sadly they may stay closed all summer. Gull Point Campground is open.

Crane Prairie has been producing some nice healthy fin-clipped holdover trout in the 15-to-18-inch range to both bait anglers and trollers. Non-fin-clipped native rainbows must be released. A few nice kokanee in the 15-to-16-inch range are being taken by long-line trollers.

Crane Prairie campers will be disappointed as Rock Creek Campground and Quin River are closed due to hazard trees being cut and removed, and may remain closed through the summer. Crane Prairie Resort and RV Park will opened on Friday, May 7. The resort is also seeking to fill a few positions, give them a call and possibly work in a beautiful place for the season! A portion of Crane Prairie CG is tentatively scheduled to open soon. The issue in this popular campground is how to mitigate a massive red ant population explosion. There are two massive anthills of 5-to-6 feetin height! Additionally, well over 100 smaller ant hills and colonies within much of the campground. The Forest Service is mulling over options as to how to remove/mitigate the pesky critters. Stay tuned! Cow Meadow CG is open. No ant infestation or tree issues.

Paulina Resort and Lodge is scheduled to be open on the 14th of May

Cultus Lake boat ramp is open. The campground will soon be opened as will Cultus Lake Resort around May 21. No fishing reports yet. The resort will be holding a Mackinaw Tournament once again on the 22nd and 23rd with COVID-19 protocols in place after canceling due to COVID-19 last May.

Both North Twin and South Twin lakes are open and producing holdover Trout as well as 12-to-14-inch rainbows recently planted. Twin Lakes Resort is open at South Twin. However, the restaurant will only serve lunch and dinner at this point this year and will be closed on Monday and Tuesday. Of course, the friendly staff will offer advice as to what tackle to use and where to fish on South Twin.

Paulina and East Lake are still somewhat snowbound as well as likely partially covered with ice. The gate was scheduled to open on Friday the 7th. Paulina Resort and Lodge is scheduled to be open on the 14th of May. Camp spots at Paulina and access to East Lake is dependant on snow. Certainly nothing unusual for early spring at 6,331′ elevation.

Cascade Lake Highway is gated at Deschutes Bridge, 35 miles from Highway 58 as the road crew is still removing snow between the gate and Mount Bachelor. It should soon be open providing access to the “scenic route” to Bend as well as Lava Lake, Elk Lake and more lakes trails and scenic vistas.

For further camping and access information go to: www.fs.usda.gov/main/deschutes/home.

All Central Cascade resorts have a Facebook page and websites providing detailed updates, reservations, etc. Please support these businesses as they are all a very essential part of our recreational economy, just as all Highway 58 businesses are. We are all in this together! Hopefully, we will soon see the light at the end of the tunnel. Until then, enjoy and respect our beautiful outdoors. Be safe with fire as the forest is already tinder-dry! Pack it in and pack it out. Consider carrying a garbage bag to clean up after the slobs that give us all a bad name.

Keep your tips up and tight lines!

Rob DeHarpport, former mayor of Westfir, moved to Crescent Lake Junction in 2015 shortly after retiring from a 31-year career in the trucking industry.