Prineville Reservoir Fishing
A 2,861-acre Oregon reservoir in Crook County.
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Opening notes on Prineville Reservoir
Mapped from BLM hydrography, Prineville Reservoir spreads across about 2,861 acres of Crook County. The launch operators OSMB names are Crook County Parks and Recreation District and Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. Fuel and food are closest in Juniper Canyon, near 5 miles away.
OSMB records 3 open launch sites that reach it. Read 1 water-specific rule before keeping fish here. It falls under the Central Zone in the booklet.
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.
Which fish ODFW records in Prineville Reservoir
Each fish listed for Prineville Reservoir comes from an ODFW habitat polygon, a booklet rule or a record.
How ODFW tags the fish of Prineville Reservoir
| Fish | Use ODFW records | Origin | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black crappie | resident multiple uses | non native | DocObsFish |
| Bluegill | resident multiple uses | non native | DocObsFish |
| Bridgelip sucker | unknown | native local | DocObsFish |
| Brown bullhead | resident multiple uses | non native | DocObsFish |
| Chiselmouth | unknown | native local | DocObsFish |
| Largemouth bass | resident multiple uses | non native | DocObsFish |
| Largescale sucker | unknown | native local | DocObsFish |
| Northern pikeminnow | unknown | native local | DocObsFish |
| Rainbow trout | resident multiple uses | native non local | DocObsFish |
| Redband trout | rearing | unknown | IndivProfOpinion |
| 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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- County Boat Ramp Day Use on Prineville Reservoir1 lane, trailered launch; parking, restrooms; Crook County Parks and Recreation District
- Prineville Reservoir State Park2 lanes, trailered launch, OSMB status: restricted; parking, restrooms, pumpout, marina; Oregon Parks and Recreation Department; OSMB note: Prineville State Park Day Use is open year-round. The launch is closed to motorized …
- Roberts Bay West boat ramp on Prineville Reservoir1 lane, trailered launch; parking, restrooms; Oregon Parks and Recreation Department
OSMB marks 2 sites closed: Jasper Point Day Use Ramp on Prineville Reservoir and Powderhouse Cove boat ramp on Prineville Reservoir.
Alternate launches near Prineville Reservoir
- Ochoco Reservoir County ParkOchoco Reservoir, 12 miles north
Oregon State Marine Board Boating Access Sites layer (OSMB ArcGIS), read November 2, 2026; status as OSMB publishes it.
Level readings for Prineville 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.
Corps water managers publish the Prineville Reservoir figure shown, with its date.
Oregon limits at Prineville Reservoir
For Prineville Reservoir the Central Zone rows apply first, then any exception.
| 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. |
Where the booklet sets its own rules for Prineville Reservoir
| Water as printed | Species | Rule | Page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prineville Reservoir | bass | 5 bass per day, only 1 bass over 15 inches may be harvested. | 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.
How Prineville Reservoir stacks against its neighbours
Ochoco Reservoir leads this group on size, with roughly 970 acres.
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Kind | OSMB launches | Stocking weeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prineville Reservoir | 2,861 | reservoir | 3 | 0 | |
| Ochoco Reservoir | 12 miles north | 970 | reservoir | 1 | 2 |
| Horse Heaven Reservoir | 14 miles east | 32 | reservoir | 0 | 0 |
| Antelope Flat Reservoir | 19 miles southeast | 200 | reservoir | 0 | 4 |
| Dick Reservoir | 20 miles east | 19 | reservoir | 0 | 0 |
| Walton Lake | 29 miles northeast | 21 | reservoir | 1 | 10 |
BLM outlines, the OSMB launch layer and the ODFW stocking schedule; read November 2, 2026.
Around Prineville Reservoir: Oregon towns, tackle and more water
Nearby lakes worth a look after Prineville Reservoir
- Ochoco Reservoir12 miles north
- Horse Heaven Reservoir14 miles east
- Antelope Flat Reservoir19 miles southeast
- Dick Reservoir20 miles east
- Walton Lake29 miles northeast
Stores that outfit trips to Prineville Reservoir
- Bi-Mart (Prineville)sporting goods store, Prineville, 13 miles
- Cent Wise Sporting Goodsbait and tackle shop, Redmond, 25 miles
- Bi-Mart (Redmond)sporting goods store, Redmond, 25 miles
Oregon towns to sleep in near Prineville Reservoir
- Juniper Canyon5 miles
- Prineville14 miles
- Redmond25 miles
County fishing pages tied to Prineville Reservoir
- Crook Countyseat: Prineville
A Piscifun kit worth stowing before you head to Prineville Reservoir
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Know the Prineville Reservoir catch by sight
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, CC BY 2.0
Photo: gailhampshire, CC BY 2.0
Prineville Reservoir, the usual questions settled
Which Oregon county holds Prineville Reservoir?
Aim for Crook County, about 5 miles from Juniper Canyon.
How much surface does Prineville Reservoir have?
Roughly 2,861 acres on the hydrography outline.
Can I tow a trailer boat to Prineville Reservoir in Oregon?
OSMB maps 3 launch sites; County Boat Ramp Day Use on Prineville Reservoir is one.
What can an Oregon angler hook at Prineville Reservoir?
Look for black crappie, bluegill, bridgelip sucker, brown bullhead, chiselmouth, largemouth bass and largescale sucker.
Which Oregon rules apply on Prineville Reservoir?
Trout: Lakes: 5 per day, 3 daily limits in possession. Streams: 2 per day, 3 daily limits in possession; 8-inch minimum. Its ODFW exception sits beside the zone rows.
What does an Oregon license for Prineville Reservoir cost in 2026?
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).
Can I fish Prineville Reservoir from an Oregon shoreline?
Neither DLCD nor ODFW maps shore access on it.
Where can I buy an ODFW license near Prineville Reservoir?
Try Bi-Mart (Prineville), roughly 13 miles away.
Is there a USGS or Corps gauge on Prineville Reservoir?
The level band shows the latest reading with its source.
Hook up the trailer and aim for Prineville Reservoir
Read the zone rows, then choose the launch closest to your water.