.sf-oregon{–ink:#1B2226;–deep:#23343A;–teal:#8A3A22;–mist:#F1F3EE;–foam:#F8F9F5;–lure:#E9B055;–lure-ink:#1B2226;–line:#DCE1DA;–muted:#4A5550}.sf-oregon .sf-hero{background-color:#3B2620;background-image:radial-gradient(820px 480px at 94% 0%,rgba(233,176,85,.38),rgba(233,176,85,0) 62%),radial-gradient(760px 420px at 4% 100%,rgba(157,184,154,.30),rgba(157,184,154,0) 60%),linear-gradient(196deg,#8A3A22,#5A2E22 38%,#2C3437 74%,#1B2226);clip-path:polygon(0 0,100% 0,100% calc(100% – 6px),88.5% calc(100% – 6px),88% calc(100% – 27px),87.2% calc(100% – 35px),86.3% calc(100% – 31px),85.6% calc(100% – 15px),85.3% calc(100% – 6px),83.4% calc(100% – 6px),83% calc(100% – 31px),82.4% calc(100% – 46px),81.4% calc(100% – 52px),80.2% calc(100% – 51px),79% calc(100% – 44px),78.2% calc(100% – 29px),77.6% calc(100% – 6px),0 calc(100% – 6px));padding-bottom:76px}.sf-oregon .sf-hero::before{background:linear-gradient(95deg,rgba(27,34,38,.84) 0%,rgba(27,34,38,.50) 52%,rgba(27,34,38,.12) 100%)}.sf-oregon .sf-eyebrow{border-radius:14px 3px 14px 3px;background:#1B2226;color:#F6DDB0;border-right:4px solid #E9B055;padding:5px 12px 4px 14px;letter-spacing:.07em}.sf-oregon .sf-hero .sf-sub{color:#F4EFE8}.sf-oregon .sf-hero[style*=”background-image”]::before{background:linear-gradient(95deg,rgba(27,34,38,.90) 0%,rgba(27,34,38,.66) 46%,rgba(59,38,32,.32) 80%,rgba(59,38,32,.16) 100%),linear-gradient(0deg,rgba(16,20,22,.72),rgba(16,20,22,0) 50%)}.sf-oregon .sf-bar{background-color:#1B2226;background-image:radial-gradient(560px 230px at 95% 0,rgba(233,176,85,.26),rgba(233,176,85,0)),linear-gradient(100deg,#1B2226 40%,#5A2E22)}.sf-oregon .sf-bar p{color:#EEF0EC}.sf-oregon .sf-band–white,.sf-oregon .sf-band–white:nth-of-type(even){background-color:#fff;background-image:radial-gradient(900px 520px at 94% 6%,rgba(138,58,34,.10),rgba(138,58,34,0) 64%),radial-gradient(780px 470px at 4% 96%,rgba(157,184,154,.26),rgba(157,184,154,0) 62%),radial-gradient(640px 400px at 50% 50%,rgba(233,176,85,.12),rgba(233,176,85,0) 62%),linear-gradient(135deg,#FFFFFF,#F8F9F5,#ECEFE8)}.sf-oregon .sf-band–white:nth-of-type(even){background-image:radial-gradient(900px 520px at 6% 6%,rgba(138,58,34,.10),rgba(138,58,34,0) 64%),radial-gradient(780px 470px at 96% 96%,rgba(157,184,154,.26),rgba(157,184,154,0) 62%),linear-gradient(225deg,#FFFFFF,#F8F9F5,#ECEFE8)}.sf-oregon .sf-band–mist{background-color:#F1F3EE;background-image:radial-gradient(860px 520px at 10% 8%,rgba(233,176,85,.26),rgba(233,176,85,0) 64%),radial-gradient(720px 460px at 92% 94%,rgba(157,184,154,.30),rgba(157,184,154,0) 62%),linear-gradient(200deg,#F7F8F4,#F1F3EE,#E4E9E1)}.sf-oregon .sf-band–deep,.sf-oregon .sf-band–ink{color:#F1F3EF}.sf-oregon .sf-band–deep{background-color:#23343A;background-image:radial-gradient(900px 540px at 92% 6%,rgba(233,176,85,.18),rgba(233,176,85,0) 62%),radial-gradient(800px 500px at 6% 94%,rgba(157,184,154,.16),rgba(157,184,154,0) 62%),linear-gradient(150deg,#2C4249,#23343A,#162227)}.sf-oregon .sf-band–ink{background-color:#1B2226;background-image:radial-gradient(900px 540px at 8% 6%,rgba(138,58,34,.55),rgba(138,58,34,0) 62%),radial-gradient(760px 480px at 94% 96%,rgba(233,176,85,.14),rgba(233,176,85,0) 62%),linear-gradient(150deg,#232C31,#1B2226,#111619)}.sf-oregon .sf-band–deep .sf-src,.sf-oregon .sf-band–ink .sf-src{color:#D8DFDC}.sf-oregon .sf-band–deep .sf-head p,.sf-oregon .sf-band–ink .sf-head p,.sf-oregon .sf-cta p{color:#EAEFEC}.sf-oregon .sf-band–deep .sf-card p,.sf-oregon .sf-band–ink .sf-card p,.sf-oregon .sf-band–deep .sf-fact span,.sf-oregon .sf-band–ink .sf-fact span{color:#E3E9E6}body.sfs .sf-oregon .sf-band–deep .sf-list li span,body.sfs .sf-oregon .sf-band–ink .sf-list li span{color:#EAEFEC}body.sfs .sf-oregon .sf-band–mist .sf-list a:not(.sf-btn),body.sfs .sf-oregon .sf-band–white .sf-list a:not(.sf-btn){color:#8A3A22}body.sfs .sf-oregon .sf-band–mist .sf-list li>span,body.sfs .sf-oregon .sf-band–white .sf-list li>span{color:#3F4844}.sf-oregon .sf-barrow .t{background:linear-gradient(90deg,#8A3A22,#D08A5C)}.sf-oregon .sf-band–deep .sf-barrow .t,.sf-oregon .sf-band–ink .sf-barrow .t{background:linear-gradient(90deg,#E9B055,#F4D59C)}.sf-oregon .sf-pill{background:#E8ECE4;color:#1F2629}.sf-oregon .sf-btn:hover{background:#F4D59C;border-color:#F4D59C}.sf-oregon .sf-card-img,.sf-oregon .sf-tile{background-color:#3B2620}.sf-oregon .sf-q p{color:#2F3834}.sf-oregon .sf-band–deep .sf-kicker,.sf-oregon .sf-band–ink .sf-kicker,.sf-oregon .sf-band–deep .sf-fact b,.sf-oregon .sf-band–ink .sf-fact b{color:#F4D59C}.sf-oregon .sf-kicker{color:#8A3A22}.sf-oregon .sf-pf-card h3{color:#141A1D!important}.sf-oregon .sf-band–deep .sf-btn–ghost,.sf-oregon .sf-band–ink .sf-btn–ghost{border-color:rgba(255,255,255,.48);background:rgba(16,20,22,.38)}body.sfs .sf-oregon .sf-band–deep a:not(.sf-card):not(.sf-tile):not(.sf-btn),body.sfs .sf-oregon .sf-band–ink a:not(.sf-card):not(.sf-tile):not(.sf-btn){color:#F4D59C}.sf-oregon .sf-tablewrap{color:#1B2226;border-color:#DCE1DA}.sf-oregon .sf-table td{color:#1B2226}.sf-oregon .sf-table th{background:#2C4249;color:#fff}.sf-oregon .sf-table tr:nth-child(even) td{background:#F2F4EF}body.sfs .sf-oregon .sf-tablewrap a,body.sfs .sf-oregon .sf-band–deep .sf-tablewrap a:not(.sf-card):not(.sf-tile):not(.sf-btn),body.sfs .sf-oregon .sf-band–ink .sf-tablewrap a:not(.sf-card):not(.sf-tile):not(.sf-btn){color:#8A3A22}.sf-oregon .sf-band–deep .sf-q,.sf-oregon .sf-band–ink .sf-q{background:rgba(255,255,255,.07);border-color:rgba(255,255,255,.18)}.sf-oregon .sf-band–deep .sf-q p,.sf-oregon .sf-band–ink .sf-q p{color:#EEF2EF}body.sfs .sf-oregon .sf-band–deep .sf-faq .sf-q p,body.sfs .sf-oregon .sf-band–ink .sf-faq .sf-q p,body.sfs .sf-oregon .sf-band–deep .sf-q h3,body.sfs .sf-oregon .sf-band–ink .sf-q h3{color:#FFFFFF}body.sfs .sf-oregon .sf-band–deep .sf-pill a:not(.sf-card):not(.sf-tile):not(.sf-btn),body.sfs .sf-oregon .sf-band–ink .sf-pill a:not(.sf-card):not(.sf-tile):not(.sf-btn),body.sfs .sf-oregon .sf-pill a{color:#8A3A22}.sf-oregon .sf-band–deep .sf-card .sf-more,.sf-oregon .sf-band–ink .sf-card .sf-more{color:#F4D59C}.sf-oregon .sf-bar .sf-crumbs,.sf-oregon .sf-bar .sf-crumbs span,body.sfs .sf-oregon .sf-bar .sf-crumbs a{color:#FFFFFF}.sf-oregon .sf-note{color:#1B2226}body.sfs .sf-oregon .sf-note a{color:#8A3A22}@media (max-width:760px){.sf-oregon .sf-hero{clip-path:polygon(0 0,100% 0,100% calc(100% – 3px),88.5% calc(100% – 3px),88% calc(100% – 15px),87.2% calc(100% – 19px),86.3% calc(100% – 17px),85.6% calc(100% – 8px),85.3% calc(100% – 3px),83.4% calc(100% – 3px),83% calc(100% – 17px),82.4% calc(100% – 25px),81.4% calc(100% – 29px),80.2% calc(100% – 28px),79% calc(100% – 24px),78.2% calc(100% – 16px),77.6% calc(100% – 3px),0 calc(100% – 3px));padding-bottom:52px}}
For the trout herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 $79.99
Crane Prairie Reservoir 4.6 mi
Photo: Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife, CC BY-SA 2.0 
Lava Lake 7.1 mi
Photo: Bonnie Moreland, Public domain 
Paulina Lake 31 mi
Photo: Bonnie Moreland, Public domain 
Deschutes County 31 mi
Photo: Robert Ashworth, CC BY 2.0
Oregon lakes and reservoirs
Pick for troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 $79.99
Cultus Lake Fishing
A 1,142-acre Oregon lake in Deschutes County.
Pick for troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo: Bonnie Moreland, Public domain
Deschutes County
Where an Oregon day on Cultus Lake begins
The BLM outline of Cultus Lake, a lake in Deschutes County, adds up to roughly 1,142 acres. Boaters use sites operated by Bend/Fort Rock Ranger District and Private. From the GNIS point it is about 20 miles to Three Rivers.
2 open launch sites serve it, per OSMB.
1,142acres (BLM outline)
2OSMB launches
3fish mapped
1county
BLM Oregon hydrography lake outlines (NHD), summed by GNIS name (layer), read November 2, 2026.; launch managers from the Oregon State Marine Board launch layer; Census 2023 places.
Species
Fish ODFW maps in Cultus Lake
Habitat records, booklet rules and records name these fish at Cultus Lake.
Native, stocked or introduced at Cultus Lake
| Fish | Use ODFW records | Origin | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brook trout | resident multiple uses | non native | IndivProfOpinion |
| Lake trout | resident multiple uses | non native | UndocObsFish |
| Rainbow trout | resident multiple uses | native non local | DocObsFish |
| Redband trout | rearing | native local | DocObsFish |
ODFW Fish Habitat Distribution layers (ODFW ArcGIS), read November 2, 2026; a mapped species is habitat use ODFW records, not a catch report.
For the trout herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 Access
Where to launch on Cultus Lake
- Big Cove Boat-in Camping launch on Cultus Lakehand carry launch; restrooms, use fee, hand launch; Bend/Fort Rock Ranger District
- Cultus Lake Day Use boat ramp2 lanes, trailered launch; parking, restrooms, use fee; Bend/Fort Rock Ranger District; OSMB note: Cultus Lake Day Use is open and the docks remain installed year round.
Closed per OSMB: Cultus Lake Resort boat ramp, Cultus Lake Campground launch, Little Cove Boat-in Camping launch on Cultus Lake and West Cultus Boat-in Camping launch.
Other OSMB launches by Cultus Lake
- Little Cultus Lake Campground boat rampLittle Cultus Lake, 3 miles south
- Quinn River Ramp on Crane Prairie ReservoirCrane Prairie Reservoir, 4 miles south
- Cow Meadow boat ramp on Crane Prairie ReservoirDeschutes River (Above Crane Prairie), 4 miles southeast
- Crane Prairie Campground RampCrane Prairie Reservoir, 5 miles southeast
- Crane Prairie Day Use boat rampCrane Prairie Reservoir, 6 miles southeast
- Crane Prairie Resort MarinaCrane Prairie Reservoir, 6 miles southeast
Oregon State Marine Board Boating Access Sites layer (OSMB ArcGIS), read November 2, 2026; status as OSMB publishes it.
Limits
Daily bag at Cultus Lake
No booklet line names Cultus Lake; the Central Zone, which covers most listed waters of Deschutes County, is shown, and the zone map settles the rest.
| Species | Daily limit as printed | 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. |
An Oregon angling license ($50 resident, $138 nonresident for 2026) covers anglers 12 and older; salmon, steelhead, sturgeon and halibut go on a Combined Angling Tag ($69 resident).
Limits as printed in the 2026 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations (ODFW, eRegulations edition) (Central Zone page), read November 2, 2026.
Compare
Cultus Lake set beside nearby still water
For more room, Crane Prairie Reservoir offers about 4,380 acres.
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Kind | OSMB launches | Stocking weeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cultus Lake | 1,142 | lake | 2 | 0 | |
| Deer Lake | 2 miles southwest | 52 | lake | 0 | 2 |
| Little Cultus Lake | 3 miles south | 173 | lake | 1 | 0 |
| Crane Prairie Reservoir | 5 miles southeast | 4,380 | reservoir | 7 | 0 |
| Lava Lake | 7 miles northeast | 343 | lake | 1 | 0 |
| Little Lava Lake | 7 miles northeast | 112 | lake | 0 | 0 |
BLM outlines, the OSMB launch layer and the ODFW stocking schedule; read November 2, 2026.
Nearby
Next stops near Cultus Lake for an Oregon trip
More Oregon lakes close to Cultus Lake
- Deer Lake2 miles southwest
- Little Cultus Lake3 miles south
- Crane Prairie Reservoir5 miles southeast
- Lava Lake7 miles northeast
- Little Lava Lake7 miles northeast
Gear shops in range of Cultus Lake
- Bi-Mart (LaPine)sporting goods store, LaPine, 21 miles
- Sunriver Fly Shopfly shop, Bend, 21 miles
- Central Oregon Fishingbait and tackle shop, Bend, 21 miles
- Central Oregon Stillwater Outfittersbait and tackle shop, Bend, 21 miles
- Bend Fly Shopfly shop, Bend
- Dick's Sporting Goods Bendsporting goods store, Bend
Lodging towns close to Cultus Lake
- Three Rivers20 miles
- La Pine21 miles
- Deschutes River Woods27 miles
County guides covering Cultus Lake
- Deschutes Countyseat: Bend
Piscifun
Piscifun gear an angler could carry out to Cultus Lake
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Photos
Photographs from the shoreline near Cultus Lake
Photo: Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Bonnie Moreland, Public domain
Photo: Bonnie Moreland, Public domain
Photo: Robert Ashworth, CC BY 2.0
Answers
Read these before you fish Cultus Lake
Where in Oregon is Cultus Lake?
The water sits in Deschutes County, about 20 miles from Three Rivers.
How many acres does the BLM outline give Cultus Lake?
Near 1,142 acres by the BLM layer.
Which OSMB launch is closest to Cultus Lake?
2 launch sites appear on the OSMB layer, including Big Cove Boat-in Camping launch on Cultus Lake.
Which gamefish use Cultus Lake?
ODFW sources name brook trout, lake trout (mackinaw) and rainbow trout.
Does ODFW set a size limit at Cultus Lake?
Trout: Lakes: 5 per day, 3 daily limits in possession. Streams: 2 per day, 3 daily limits in possession; 8-inch minimum.
Can a visitor fish Cultus Lake?
An Oregon angling license ($50 resident, $138 nonresident for 2026) covers anglers 12 and older; salmon, steelhead, sturgeon and halibut go on a Combined Angling Tag ($69 resident).
Are there docks on Cultus Lake?
None appears on the shore lists.
Where is the nearest Oregon tackle counter to Cultus Lake?
First on our list: Bi-Mart (LaPine), roughly 21 miles away.
Make Cultus Lake the weekend
Buy the Oregon license and tag online before the drive.