The angler released that fish unharmed and also has hooked and lost another big brown in 2012 that was also a possible record. In 2011, a young angler caught and released a brown measuring 36 inches, which a taxidermist estimated would weigh 31 pounds … three pounds better than the current state record.

If you want a candidate for best brown trout lake west of the summit of the Cascade Mountains, Lemolo would almost certainly be the top vote-getter. The browns feed on those and tui chubs.įor detailed information about this fishery, read: Once the ice is gone, trolling reigns.Įast Lake also offers good fishing for rainbow trout and kokanee. The return of easy access can vary widely.Īnglers who can get to the lake often start fishing for browns as soon as there are clear spots in the ice near several springs. This high-elevation lake is technically open for fishing all year, but the road is often blocked to typical vehicles at least partially into spring, due to lingering snow. It is now managed for trophy brown trout. East LakeĮast Lake is one of two similar lakes that share Newberry Crater south of Bend. You’ll also find good-sized kokanee and some rainbow trout.Ĭrescent Lake is the go-to spot for trophy brown trout anglers who want to chase big fish from late fall to early spring, when many other good brown trout lakes are closed or inaccessible.Ĭrescent doesn’t close and a boat ramp at the resort is plowed regularly and open all year, except perhaps for short periods of nasty weather. This is a large central Oregon lake off Highway 58 (southeast of Eugene) that is known for trophies of several species, most notably brown trout and lake trout (mackinaw). The following six lakes and reservoirs could produce brown trout over 20 pounds in any given year, and any of them might just yield a brown trout in the 30-pound range one of these days. This article briefly shares some of Oregon’s best spots for trophy brown trout, listed alphabetically. It’s listed as the Oregon state record, but there are tales of larger fish caught and released or lost in battle. The biggest on record is the 28-pound, 5-ounce monster caught in Paulina Lake in 2002.

Oregon produces some of the largest browns on the West Coast. Brown trout aren’t native to Oregon, but they sure have made themselves at home.

Fishing planet oregon guide