THURSDAY, MARCH 4, 2021 • THE BULLETIN
GO! MAGAZINE • PAGE 11
THE OUTDOORS
bendbulletin.com/gooutdoors
FISHING THE DESCHUTES ABOVE BEND
BY MARK MORICAL • The Bulletin
T
he Upper Deschutes below Benham Falls can be a productive place to fish during late winter
in Central Oregon. The water flows are typically low there this time of year, affording the fish
fewer places to hide and making the river easier to wade. Conversely, the Middle Deschutes,
from Lake Billy Chinook to Bend, typically experiences higher flows through the winter, making it
difficult to fish. Brown and rainbow trout constitute the majority of the catch on the stretch of the river
MORE
OUTDOORS
COVERAGE
Find places to explore, conditions,
expert columns and outstanding
features in The Bulletin’s new
Explore Central Oregon section
in Friday’s paper
from Benham to Bend, which is open year-round but restricted to artificial flies and lures.
Getting there: The best way to access the river below
Benham Falls from Bend is to drive southwest on Cen-
tury Drive. After about 7 miles, turn left on Conklin
Road (Road 41).
Several left turns off Conklin provide access to the
river. Options include Lava Island Falls, Big Eddy, Dillon
Falls and Benham Falls.
Parking: Northwest Forest Pass required for parking at
trailheads.
Reporter: 541-383-0318, mmorical@bendbulletin.com
Bulletin file photo
A fly angler fishes the Upper Deschutes River between Lava Island
Falls and Big Eddy.
Outdoor pick of the week:
Crooked River Wetlands Complex
I love a good interpretive trail.
At the Crooked River Wetlands Complex
about three miles northwest from the heart of
Prineville, 13 well-designed educational kiosks
are placed along the 5.4 miles of flat trails that
surround 13 ponds that host a plethora of mi-
gratory and resident birds throughout the year.
The kiosks all have a different informational
theme, including animal and pollinator informa-
tion, history and hydrology.
The complex is relatively new. It officially
opened in April of 2016, and was created out of
the city’s need for a new wastewater treatment
system. Instead of spending an estimated $62
million on a whole new facility, the city went a
different route, creating a manmade wetland
where the wastewater would gradually and
naturally be filtered before returning to the
Crooked River, cutting the price tag down to
$7.77 million.
The paved path
along a pond at the
Crooked River Wet-
lands Complex.
Makenzie Whittle/
The Bulletin
There are two trails, an inner and outer loop.
The inner is 3.2 miles and completely paved,
while the outer and full 5.4-mile track is a mix of
pavement and gravel. The complex has a large
pavilion with two picnic tables and a bathroom,
while the walkways have benches throughout.
Both trails bring great opportunities to not only
learn, but to birdwatch as well. On a recent, very
windy afternoon, my sister Heather and I spied
several species including a red-tailed hawk,
buffleheads, lesser scaups, dozens of northern
shovelers, magpies, American coots, trumpeter
swans and a great blue heron.
Getting there: From Prineville, travel west
on U.S. Highway 26/Third Street and continue
onto State Highway 126. Turn right onto the
O’Neil Highway for 2.2 miles then turn right
onto Rimrock Acres Road. The complex is imme-
diately on the left. Open dawn till dusk.
— Makenzie Whittle, The Bulletin
LES NEWMAN’S
QUALITY OUTDOOR WEAR
On NE Franklin Avenue across from Les Schwab
541-318-4868