Fishing in Crook County, Oregon
County seat: Prineville. Population 24,738.
- 8lake pages
- 8open launches
Pick for crappiePiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo of Prineville Reservoir: Amit Patel, CC BY 2.0
Crook County: start here
Prineville is the seat of Crook County, home to 24,738 people at the 2020 Census. The ODFW Central Zone table governs most named water in Crook County, but watershed boundaries decide each zone.
By mapped acreage Prineville Reservoir heads the 8 lakes with guides in Crook County. Boaters get 8 open launches in the county, with 8 trailered ramps among them.
Census 2020 population; BLM Oregon NHD lake outlines; OSMB Boating Access Sites; DLCD and ODFW shore access layers; 2026 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations zone lists; read November 2, 2026.
Mapped launches and lakes, Crook County
OSMB launch points, DLCD and ODFW shore sites, NHD lake points, PMEP estuary points; read November 2, 2026.
Lakes and reservoirs in Crook County
| Lake | Acres | Kind | OSMB launches | Fish mapped |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prineville Reservoir | 2,861 (outline) | reservoir | 5 | black crappie, bluegill, bridgelip sucker |
| Ochoco Reservoir | 970 (outline) | reservoir | 1 | black crappie, brown bullhead, rainbow trout |
| Antelope Flat Reservoir | 200 (outline) | reservoir | 1 | rainbow trout |
| Allen Creek Reservoir | 81 (outline) | reservoir | 1 | rainbow trout |
| Horse Heaven Reservoir | 32 (outline) | reservoir | 0 | rainbow trout |
| Walton Lake | 21 (outline) | lake | 1 | brook trout, brown bullhead, rainbow trout |
| Dick Reservoir | 19 (outline) | reservoir | 0 | rainbow trout |
| Peterson Creek Reservoir | 13 (outline) | reservoir | 0 | rainbow trout |
BLM Oregon hydrography lake outlines (NHD), summed by GNIS name (layer), read November 2, 2026. Species: ODFW Fish Habitat Distribution layers (ODFW ArcGIS), read November 2, 2026; a mapped species is habitat use ODFW records, not a catch report. ODFW publishes no lake depths in these layers.
For the crappie herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 Fish mapped on waters around Crook County
Water pages inside 40 miles of Prineville were counted by species, and rainbow trout leads.
Species from ODFW Fish Habitat Distribution layers, booklet exceptions and ODFW records, counted per water page within 40 miles; habitat mapping, not a catch survey.
Named lakes in Crook County without their own page
23 more named lakes in Crook County carry too few published facts for a page.
| Water | Acres (outline) | Nearest place |
|---|---|---|
| Pringle Flat Reservoir | 53 | Juniper Canyon |
| Houston Lake | 53 | Prineville |
| Lillard Reservoir | 43 | Burns |
| Grindstone Reservoir | 35 | Burns |
| Rickmans Camp Creek Reservoir Number Two | 32 | Juniper Canyon |
| Barnes Butte Reservoir | 32 | Prineville |
| Dry Creek Reservoirs | 27 | Juniper Canyon |
| Little Houston Lake | 23 | Prineville |
| Joe Fisher Reservoir | 23 | Prineville |
| Twelve Mile Reservoir | 20 | Burns |
| Merwin Reservoir Number 2 | 20 | Juniper Canyon |
| Mainline Reservoir Number 1 | 16 | Juniper Canyon |
| Freezeout Reservoir | 14 | Burns |
| Marshy Reservoir | 14 | Juniper Canyon |
| Johnson Creek Reservoir | 14 | Prineville |
| Palmer Reservoir | 14 | John Day |
| Houston Reservoir Number One | 13 | Juniper Canyon |
| Shumway Lake | 12 | Redmond |
| Reams Reservoir | 11 | Juniper Canyon |
| Mills Reservoir | 10 | Juniper Canyon |
| Marks Lake | 10 | Juniper Canyon |
| Miller Lake | 4 | Juniper Canyon |
| Marg Lake | 2 | Juniper Canyon |
BLM Oregon hydrography lake outlines (NHD), summed by GNIS name (layer), read November 2, 2026.
Rivers flowing through Crook County
Rivers in Crook County listed here only (1)
- South Fork Crooked RiverODFW maps summer steelhead runs
USGS stations across Crook County
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Sf Crooked River Near Bell Butte, Near Paulina, Or | 22 cfs, 4.10 ft gage height | Nov 11 8:45 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 11, 2026 9:33 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
ODFW Fish Habitat Distribution stream names and runs, OSMB launches, booklet exceptions and USGS gauges; read November 2, 2026.
Boat launches in Crook County
- Allen Creek Reservoir RampAllen Creek Reservoir, 1 lane, trailered launch, OSMB status: restricted
- County Boat Ramp Day Use on Prineville ReservoirPrineville Reservoir, 1 lane, trailered launch
- Haystack Campground Day Use boat rampHaystack Reservoir, 2 lanes, trailered launch
- Ochoco Reservoir County ParkOchoco Reservoir, 1 lane, trailered launch
- Prineville Reservoir State ParkPrineville Reservoir, 2 lanes, trailered launch, OSMB status: restricted
- Roberts Bay West boat ramp on Prineville ReservoirPrineville Reservoir, 1 lane, trailered launch
- Walton Lake boat rampWalton Lake, 1 lane, trailered launch
- West Shore Ramp on Haystack ReservoirHaystack Reservoir, 1 lane, trailered launch
- Antelope Flat Reservoir boat rampAntelope Flat Reservoir, closed per OSMB
- Jasper Point Day Use Ramp on Prineville ReservoirPrineville Reservoir, closed per OSMB
- Powderhouse Cove boat ramp on Prineville ReservoirPrineville Reservoir, closed per OSMB
Any launch OSMB marks closed has no page here; restricted launches print the reason.
Oregon State Marine Board Boating Access Sites layer (OSMB ArcGIS), read November 2, 2026; status as OSMB publishes it. Oregon Coastal Management Program (DLCD) Shoreline Access Inventory (layer) and the ODFW shore access map, read November 2, 2026.
Stocking weeks in Crook County
The schedule shows 21,700 trout headed to 3 waters of Crook County over 16 releases.
- Ochoco Reservoir2 releases planned, next listed: Apr. 19, 2027 – Apr. 23, 2027: 800 trophy trout
- Antelope Flat Reservoir4 releases planned, next listed: May. 17, 2027 – May. 21, 2027: 200 trophy trout
- Walton Lake10 releases planned, next listed: Sep. 06, 2027 – Sep. 10, 2027: 750 trophy trout
ODFW weekly trout stocking schedule (planned releases; ODFW prints size classes, not species), myodfw.com, read November 2, 2026.
Zone limits that reach Crook County
For Crook County, zone rows come first and named exceptions override them. A year of Oregon angling privileges costs $50 in state and $138 from out of state this season. Retained salmonids, sturgeon and halibut are logged on the $69 resident Combined Angling Tag.
| Species | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Trout | Lakes: 5 per day, 3 daily limits in possession. Streams: 2 per day, 3 daily limits in possession; 8-inch minimum | Lakes: Open all year. Streams: Open May 22 – Oct 31, unless noted under Exceptions. |
| Kokanee | 10 per day unless noted under Exceptions. | Open all year. |
| Salmon and Steelhead | In the aggregate: 2 adult salmon or steelhead per day, 20 per year. 5 jack salmon per day, 2 daily jack limits in possession, with the exception that one additional hatchery steelhead may be retained per day for a total. | Closed in all waters unless noted by species under Exceptions. |
| Sturgeon | Catch-and-release only. | Lakes: Open all year. Streams: Open during trout, salmon or steelhead seasons. |
| Bass | Lakes: 5 per day, 3 daily limits in possession unless noted under Exceptions. Streams: No limit. | Lakes: Open all year. Streams: Open during trout, salmon or steelhead seasons only, except portions of Columbia River tributaries flooded by Bonneville and The. |
| Bluegill, Catfish, Crappie, Other Sunfish, Walleye, Yellow Perch, Whit. | No limit. | Lakes: Open all year. Streams: Open during trout, salmon or steelhead seasons only, except portions of Columbia River tributaries flooded by Bonneville and The. |
Booklet exceptions on Crook County waters (1)
| Water | Species | Rule | Booklet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prineville Reservoir | bass | 5 bass per day, only 1 bass over 15 inches may be harvested. | p. 55 |
Limits as printed in the 2026 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations (ODFW, eRegulations edition) (Central Zone page), read November 2, 2026. Water exceptions as printed in the 2026 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations (ODFW, eRegulations edition) (booklet PDF; printed page shown), read November 2, 2026. In-season changes from ODFW override them. Fees as printed on the ODFW license, tag and permit fee page of the 2026 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations (ODFW, eRegulations edition) (fees page), read November 2, 2026.
Big-fish entries close to Crook County
The record list names no water in Crook County; these within 80 miles do.
| Species | Weight | Water | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bull Trout | 23 lb 2 oz | Lake Billy Chinook | 1989 |
| Brown Trout | 28 lb 5 oz | Paulina Lake | 2002 |
| Macinaw or Lake Trout | 40 lb 8 oz | Odell Lake | 1984 |
Oregon record fish as listed by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (record fish article, dated March 4, 2026), read November 2, 2026.
Tackle counters and hired guides, Crook County
Where to buy gear in Crook County
- Bi-Mart (Prineville)sporting goods store, Prineville
Yellow Pages and store-locator listings, guide and charter business listings (county of the business), read November 2, 2026.
A short trip from Crook County
Places to stay across Crook County
- Prinevillepop. 10,736
- Juniper Canyonpop. 2,564
Bordering Crook County
- Wheeler County43 miles northeast
- Deschutes County46 miles west
- Jefferson County52 miles northwest
- Grant County71 miles east
A Piscifun kit worth stowing before you head to Crook County
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Shorelines and riffles near Crook County, photographed
Photo: Robert Ashworth, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Bonnie Moreland, Public domain
Photo: Bonnie Moreland, Public domain
Photo: Bonnie Moreland, Public domain
What people ask before fishing Crook County
How many OSMB launches serve Crook County?
8 open launches in all, 8 trailered.
Which still water in Crook County has the widest NHD outline?
Prineville Reservoir, about 2,861 acres on its mapped outline.
Which species do Crook County waters hold?
Rainbow trout lead the count of water pages within 40 miles, then smallmouth bass, steelhead and bridgelip sucker.
Where can I pick up roe or worms in Crook County?
The county lists 1, such as Bi-Mart (Prineville).
Which guides name Crook County as home?
Guide listings point to other counties.
Which Oregon town is seat of Crook County government?
County offices are in Prineville.
Which ODFW license and tag cover Crook County?
Budget $50 if you live in Oregon, $138 if not, for the annual angling license. The Combined Angling Tag ($69 resident) records any salmon, steelhead, sturgeon or halibut kept.
Which counties surround Crook County?
The nearest county pages are Wheeler County, Deschutes County and Jefferson County.
Where does Crook County sit in the Oregon booklet?
Expect the ODFW Central Zone limits on most Crook County waters; zones are drawn by drainage, so check any water near a divide.
Do ODFW booklet exceptions apply to Crook County waters?
The 2026 booklet prints 1 water exception reaching this county, starting with Prineville Reservoir; the table above shows each.
Does ODFW stock trout in Crook County?
Yes: 3 waters on the ODFW schedule, such as Ochoco Reservoir, Antelope Flat Reservoir and Walton Lake; releases are planned, not confirmed.
Hitch up for Crook County
Open a water page for its launches and exceptions.