Ochoco Reservoir Fishing
A 970-acre Oregon reservoir in Crook County.
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The quick picture on Ochoco Reservoir
About 970 acres of open water make up Ochoco Reservoir on the BLM map of Crook County. OSMB lists Crook County Parks and Recreation District as the manager of its launches. Expect about 8 miles of driving to reach Juniper Canyon.
The OSMB layer shows 1 open launch site here. ODFW files it with the Central Zone. ODFW plans 2 stocking weeks here.
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 recorded at Ochoco Reservoir
These are the species an ODFW source ties to Ochoco Reservoir.
Where the Ochoco Reservoir fish list comes from
| Fish | Use ODFW records | Origin | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black crappie | resident multiple uses | non native | DocObsFish |
| Brown bullhead | resident multiple uses | non native | DocObsFish |
| Rainbow trout | resident multiple uses | native non local | DocObsFish |
| Redband trout | rearing | native local | DocObsHabitat |
| Smallmouth bass | resident multiple uses | non native | DocObsFish |
ODFW Fish Habitat Distribution layers (ODFW ArcGIS), read November 2, 2026; a mapped species is habitat use ODFW records, not a catch report.
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- Ochoco Reservoir County Park1 lane, trailered launch; parking, restrooms; Crook County Parks and Recreation District
Next-closest launches to Ochoco Reservoir
- County Boat Ramp Day Use on Prineville ReservoirPrineville Reservoir, 12 miles south
- Prineville Reservoir State ParkPrineville Reservoir, 12 miles south
- Roberts Bay West boat ramp on Prineville ReservoirPrineville Reservoir, 12 miles south
Oregon State Marine Board Boating Access Sites layer (OSMB ArcGIS), read November 2, 2026; status as OSMB publishes it.
Elevation readings at Ochoco Reservoir
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Northwestern Division water management data (NWD dataquery), reading as of the date shown, read November 2, 2026; datum as the Corps publishes it.
For Ochoco Reservoir we print the dated Corps reading; check the NWD page before launching.
Hatchery trout headed to Ochoco Reservoir
| Week as printed | ODFW office | Planned trout by size class |
|---|---|---|
| Apr. 19, 2027 – Apr. 23, 2027 | Bend | 800 trophy trout |
| Apr. 20, 2026 – Apr. 24, 2026 | Bend | 800 trophy trout |
Planned, not confirmed: the Ochoco Reservoir rows are from the weekly schedule.
ODFW weekly trout stocking schedule (planned releases; ODFW prints size classes, not species), myodfw.com, read November 2, 2026.
Keeping fish from Ochoco Reservoir
The booklet lists Ochoco Reservoir under the Central Zone, so that table is the starting point.
| 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.
Lakes around Ochoco Reservoir in one table
Size leader among the neighbours: Prineville Reservoir, around 2,861 acres.
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Kind | OSMB launches | Stocking weeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ochoco Reservoir | 970 | reservoir | 1 | 2 | |
| Prineville Reservoir | 12 miles south | 2,861 | reservoir | 3 | 0 |
| Horse Heaven Reservoir | 14 miles southeast | 32 | reservoir | 0 | 0 |
| Willow Creek Reservoir (Jefferson County) | 19 miles northwest | 15 | reservoir | 0 | 0 |
| Walton Lake | 20 miles northeast | 21 | reservoir | 1 | 10 |
| Dick Reservoir | 21 miles southeast | 19 | reservoir | 0 | 0 |
BLM outlines, the OSMB launch layer and the ODFW stocking schedule; read November 2, 2026.
Shops, beds and water close to Ochoco Reservoir
Reservoirs and lakes that neighbour Ochoco Reservoir
- Prineville Reservoir12 miles south
- Horse Heaven Reservoir14 miles southeast
- Willow Creek Reservoir (Jefferson County)19 miles northwest
- Walton Lake20 miles northeast
- Dick Reservoir21 miles southeast
Tackle and bait counters close to Ochoco Reservoir
- Bi-Mart (Prineville)sporting goods store, Prineville, 6 miles
- Cent Wise Sporting Goodsbait and tackle shop, Redmond, 24 miles
- Bi-Mart (Redmond)sporting goods store, Redmond, 25 miles
Beds and campgrounds handy to Ochoco Reservoir
- Juniper Canyon8 miles
- Prineville8 miles
- Redmond24 miles
Ochoco Reservoir by county
- Crook Countyseat: Prineville
Piscifun tackle that suits a trip to Ochoco Reservoir
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The look of the water close to Ochoco Reservoir
Photo: David Wilson, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Bonnie Moreland, Public domain
Photo: Bonnie Moreland, Public domain
Photo: Bonnie Moreland, Public domain
Answers on Ochoco Reservoir from the Oregon sources
Which Oregon town is closest to Ochoco Reservoir?
Point the car toward Crook County, about 8 miles from Juniper Canyon.
What size is Ochoco Reservoir on the map?
Some 970 acres of outline.
Which OSMB launch serves Ochoco Reservoir?
One launch is on the layer: Ochoco Reservoir County Park.
Which fish does ODFW place in Ochoco Reservoir?
Mapped fish include black crappie, brown bullhead, rainbow trout and smallmouth bass.
How many trout does ODFW let me keep at Ochoco Reservoir?
Trout: Lakes: 5 per day, 3 daily limits in possession. Streams: 2 per day, 3 daily limits in possession; 8-inch minimum.
What should I buy before fishing Ochoco Reservoir?
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).
Is there bank access at Ochoco Reservoir?
No listed shore site here; ask at a launch.
Is there an Oregon bait shop on the drive to Ochoco Reservoir?
Bi-Mart (Prineville), roughly 6 miles away, is where our list starts.
Which gauge reads Ochoco Reservoir?
Check the level band above.
Are trout planted in Ochoco Reservoir?
2 stocking weeks are planned this season.
Choose a still Oregon morning for Ochoco Reservoir
Check the in-season updates before a fish goes in the cooler.