Paulina Lake Fishing
A 1,371-acre Oregon lake in Deschutes County.
Pick for troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo: Bonnie Moreland, Public domain
Getting your bearings on Paulina Lake
Summed by GNIS name, the outline pieces of Paulina Lake come to around 1,371 acres in Deschutes County. Its boat access is managed by Bend/Fort Rock Ranger District and Private. The nearest Census place is La Pine, about 12 miles off.
Boaters can pick from 5 open launch sites on the OSMB map. The 2026 booklet prints 1 water-specific rule for it. It sits in the Central Zone tables. Look for 4 stocking weeks on the stocking schedule.
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.
Fish to chase at Paulina Lake
ODFW maps these fish as using Paulina Lake; a mapped species is habitat use, not a catch report.
Habitat records behind Paulina Lake
| Fish | Use ODFW records | Origin | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brown trout | resident multiple uses | non native | DocObsFish |
| Rainbow trout | resident multiple uses | native non local | DocObsFish |
| Tui chub | resident multiple uses | native non local | UndocObsFish |
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 Boat access at Paulina Lake
- Little Crater Campground boat ramp on Paulina Lake1 lane, trailered launch; parking, restrooms, use fee; Bend/Fort Rock Ranger District
- Little Crater Day Use boat ramp on Paulina Lake1 lane, trailered launch; parking, restrooms, use fee; Bend/Fort Rock Ranger District
- Paulina Lake Campground boat ramp2 lanes, trailered launch; parking, restrooms, use fee; Bend/Fort Rock Ranger District
- Paulina Lake Day Use boat ramp1 lane, trailered launch; parking, restrooms, use fee; Bend/Fort Rock Ranger District
- Paulina Lake Lodge boat ramp1 lane, trailered launch; parking, restrooms, use fee; Private
More launches close to Paulina Lake
- East Lake Campground boat rampEast Lake, 2 miles east
- Hot Springs Ramp on East LakeEast Lake, 3 miles east
- East Lake Resort MarinaEast Lake, 3 miles east
- Timber Lane Loop Access on Little Deschutes RiverLittle Deschutes River, 12 miles west
- Ferndale Place launch on Little Deschutes RiverLittle Deschutes River, 12 miles west
- Bridge Drive Access on Little Deschutes RiverLittle Deschutes River, 12 miles west
Oregon State Marine Board Boating Access Sites layer (OSMB ArcGIS), read November 2, 2026; status as OSMB publishes it.
When ODFW stocks Paulina Lake
| Week as printed | ODFW office | Planned trout by size class |
|---|---|---|
| Jul. 05, 2027 – Jul. 09, 2027 | Bend | 2,500 legal-size trout |
| Jun. 21, 2027 – Jun. 25, 2027 | Bend | 2,500 legal-size trout |
| Jul. 06, 2026 – Jul. 10, 2026 | Bend | 2,500 legal-size trout |
| Jun. 22, 2026 – Jun. 26, 2026 | Bend | 2,500 legal-size trout |
Releases at Paulina Lake follow the schedule shown; ODFW posts changes there.
ODFW weekly trout stocking schedule (planned releases; ODFW prints size classes, not species), myodfw.com, read November 2, 2026.
Bag limits that apply at Paulina Lake
Paulina Lake appears in the Central Zone section of the 2026 booklet.
| 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. |
How the rules at Paulina Lake differ from the zone
| Water as printed | Species | Rule | Page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paulina Lake | trout | Catch-and-release for tiger trout. | p. 55 |
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.
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.
State-record fish caught at Paulina Lake
| Species | Weight | Water as printed | Angler | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trout, Brown | 28 lb 5 oz | Paulina Lake | Ronald Lane | 2002 |
Oregon record fish as listed by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (record fish article, dated March 4, 2026), read November 2, 2026.
Where Paulina Lake ranks among close lakes
Of the five closest Oregon lakes with pages, Wickiup Reservoir is the largest at about 10,170 acres.
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Kind | OSMB launches | Stocking weeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paulina Lake | 1,371 | lake | 5 | 4 | |
| East Lake | 2 miles east | 969 | lake | 3 | 4 |
| Wickiup Reservoir | 24 miles west | 10,170 | reservoir | 4 | 0 |
| North Twin Lake | 25 miles west | 107 | lake | 0 | 0 |
| South Twin Lake | 25 miles west | 103 | lake | 1 | 0 |
| Crane Prairie Reservoir | 27 miles west | 4,380 | reservoir | 7 | 0 |
BLM outlines, the OSMB launch layer and the ODFW stocking schedule; read November 2, 2026.
What surrounds Paulina Lake for anglers
Other still water within reach of Paulina Lake
- East Lake2 miles east
- Wickiup Reservoir24 miles west
- North Twin Lake25 miles west
- South Twin Lake25 miles west
- Crane Prairie Reservoir27 miles west
Shops for roe, worms and spinners near Paulina Lake
- Bi-Mart (LaPine)sporting goods store, LaPine, 13 miles
- Central Oregon Fishingbait and tackle shop, Bend, 13 miles
- Central Oregon Stillwater Outfittersbait and tackle shop, Bend, 13 miles
- Sunriver Fly Shopfly shop, Bend, 13 miles
- RodWrap fishing grips by Better Ways Productsbait and tackle shop, Bend, 22 miles
- Patient Angler Fly Shop Incfly shop, Bend, 22 miles
Towns within striking range of Paulina Lake
- La Pine12 miles
- Three Rivers13 miles
- Deschutes River Woods19 miles
County pages that include Paulina Lake
- Deschutes Countyseat: Bend
What Piscifun sells for a day spent on Paulina Lake
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Picture key to the fish of Paulina Lake
Photo: robposse, CC BY 2.0
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, CC BY 2.0
Photo: gailhampshire, CC BY 2.0
Paulina Lake: what Oregon anglers want to know
How do I locate Paulina Lake on an Oregon map?
You will find it in Deschutes County, about 12 miles from La Pine.
Is Paulina Lake large water?
Close to 1,371 acres on the NHD outline.
How many OSMB launches reach Paulina Lake?
Little Crater Campground boat ramp on Paulina Lake is among 5 launch sites OSMB maps.
What species does ODFW map in Paulina Lake?
Named species: brown trout, rainbow trout and tui chub.
What may an Oregon angler keep from Paulina Lake?
Trout: Lakes: 5 per day, 3 daily limits in possession. Streams: 2 per day, 3 daily limits in possession; 8-inch minimum. Read the exception table as well.
Does a visitor from out of state need an Oregon license at Paulina 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).
Is shore fishing possible at Paulina Lake?
No mapped shore site sits on it; launch areas and parks may allow bank fishing.
Where do Oregon anglers buy gear for Paulina Lake?
Stop at Bi-Mart (LaPine), roughly 13 miles away.
What does the schedule show for Paulina Lake?
Yes; the ODFW schedule plans 4 stocking weeks, by size class.
Which record lists Paulina Lake?
Trout, Brown, 28 lb 5 oz, by Ronald Lane (2002).
Plan a morning on Paulina Lake
Licenses, endorsements and water exceptions are on the regulations page.