Regional Guide

Avoid the crowds and head to Fremont National Forest, a little-known Oregon gem. Most of the lakes and streams here in"Oregon's Outback" remain pristine, offering excellent fly-fishing in a rustic setting. The Chewaucan River is chock-full of fiesty redband trout—a type of rainbow found only in the Great Basin.

From its volcanic birth some 7,000 years ago until the end of the 19th century, Crater Lake offered zero angling opportunities. Between 1888 and 1941, the lake was stocked with nearly 2 million trout and salmon; both rainbows and kokanee salmon survive today. Head to the shores of Cleetwood Cove and Wizard Island for the best action—there's no limit to what you can catch and no permit required.

The wild and scenic Rogue River is famous for its steelhead population. If you'd rather battle trout, head to the North Fork—these 50 scenic miles of river hold 'bows, cutts, browns, and brookies. Union Creek, one of the North Fork's feeder streams, offers trout and steelhead, not to mention as some of the largest salmon in the continental United States.

Check out the North Umpqua for an amazing summer-steelhead run—one of the West Coast's best. In autumn, stay for the cutthroat trout, the salmon (chinook and coho), and the scenery—willow trees turn gold, and the dogwood bursts into flames.

The Williamson River in Winema National Forest is well known for its trout population (no stocking necessary). You'll find trophy-size rainbows and browns in the Lower Williamson and brookies and smaller 'bows in the upper sections.