East Lake

East Lake fills part of the Newberry Caldera south of Bend at about 6,400 feet, a deep, clear lake of about 1,000 acres beside its twin, Paulina. It grows big brown trout, along with kokanee and stocked rainbows, and the browns have reached state-record size. Tiger trout are stocked to eat the chubs and must be released.

Chironomids are the hatch that matters: from ice-out in late spring through summer, fish feed on them in the shallows and along the drop-offs, and an indicator rig or a slow-sinking line takes most fish. The east shore, with its warm springs, and the shallow north shore are the usual starts. Callibaetis and damsels come in midsummer, and fall brings the big browns shallow. The road into the caldera is snowed in through winter, so the season runs from late spring into fall.