Odell Lake fishing

Odell Lake fishing lists Rainbow Trout and Dolly Varden on a natural lake, outside the stocking reports. Species guides list dawn and dusk as the active times.

Last stocked: Not in these reports
Plants on record: 0
Species recorded: 2
Surface acres: 3,593
Elevation: 4,788 ft

Fish at Odell Lake

0 stocked · 2 confirmed present

Rainbow Trout Confirmed present Best: dawn, dusk

Best: dawn, dusk

More than 6.5 million rainbow trout were released here from 1926 until stocking stopped in 1962 for poor returns; a small, naturally reproducing population persists. (nrimp.dfw.state.or.us, accessed September 25, 2026)

Rainbow Trout species guide

Dolly Varden Confirmed present

A remnant population sustains itself naturally in the lake; four harvested in recent years (as of a 1986 ODFW report) averaged 29 inches. (nrimp.dfw.state.or.us, accessed September 25, 2026)

Dolly Varden species guide

Access and facts

Water type: natural lake
Nearest town: Crescent, OR
Shore access: No
Boat ramp: Yes
Facilities: camping, dock

Five boat ramps, four US Forest Service campgrounds, and two resorts with marinas serve the lake, per an ODFW management plan; the fisheries here are almost exclusively boat oriented.

Other places to fish at Odell Lake

Shelter Cove

The lake's major kokanee spawning area, where springs well up through shoreline gravel; a marina and boat docks are also here. (nrimp.dfw.state.or.us, accessed September 25, 2026)

Trapper Creek and Crystal Creek

The lake's two permanent tributary streams; their lower reaches are accessible spawning areas. (nrimp.dfw.state.or.us, accessed September 25, 2026)

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About Odell Lake

Odell has long been one of Oregon's most important kokanee fisheries, with major spawning at Shelter Cove. ODFW committed to wild trout management in 1986. Lake trout stocked from 1951-1965 and rainbow trout last stocked in 1962 both sustain naturally now. The natural lake sits east of the Cascade summit off Highway 58, about 60 miles east of Eugene. It runs roughly 5 miles by 1 mile, 3,593 surface acres, averaging 134 feet deep with a 282-foot maximum.

Photo of Odell Lake — HRVdriveblue4449, CC BY-SA 4.0

Nearest lakes

Crescent Lake 6.7 mi no stocking on record Davis Lake 8.3 mi no stocking on record Wickiup Reservoir 17.1 mi no stocking on record Crane Prairie Reservoir 17.4 mi no stocking on record Cooper Creek Reservoir 65.1 mi last stocked May 11, 2026

Camping near Odell Lake

Campgrounds within 15 miles of Odell Lake's mapped point, nearest first: Princess Creek camping (1.1 miles), Sunset Cove camping (1.8 miles), Shelter Cove Resort RV Park camping (2.2 miles), Trapper Creek camping (2.4 miles), and Crescent Lake Yurts camping (5 miles), each with its own campground page on campgroundsdb.com.

Straight-line distances.

Public land at Odell Lake

Odell Lake is inside Deschutes National Forest.

It is 0.7 miles outside the edge of Diamond Peak Wilderness.

Boundaries from Public Lands DB, part of the same network.

Common questions

What fish are at Odell Lake?

Rainbow Trout (More than 6.5 million rainbow trout were released here from 1926 until stocking stopped in 1962 for poor returns; a small, naturally reproducing population persists) and Dolly Varden (A remnant population sustains itself naturally in the lake; four harvested in recent years (as of a 1986 ODFW report) averaged 29 inches) are recorded here outside the stocking reports.

How do you get on Odell Lake?

Shore fishing is not available and there is a boat ramp. The nearest town is Crescent, OR. Facilities include camping and dock. Five boat ramps, four US Forest Service campgrounds, and two resorts with marinas serve the lake, per an ODFW management plan; the fisheries here are almost exclusively boat oriented.

Sources (2) +