Davis Lake is one of the most popular fly fishing only lakes in the Pacific Northwest, producing abundant trophy size rainbow trout. Rainbow trout here are common in the 2-5 lb range during periods of wet years. Largemouth bass were illegally introduced in 1995 and seem to be thriving.

Davis Lake is located at the southern end of Cascade Lakes Highway in a picturesque setting on the Deschutes National Forest and is a large, shallow lake that was formed approximately 6,000 years ago by a lava flow cutting off Odell Creek. The name Davis is taken from "Button” Davis, a nineteenth century stockman for the Prineville area who ran cattle in the vicinity of the lake (ODFW, 1996). Prior to the volcanic eruption, Odell Creek was probably directly connected to the upper Deschutes River. The 3,000 surface acres of shallow water coupled with the primary inlet Odell Creek, makes Davis Lake a very rich and productive aquatic system producing numerous large rainbow trout. Davis Lake is open to fly fishing only.

Klamath rainbow trout have been planted annually to supplement natural reproduction, which was successful until the drought in early 90’s although that was discontinued in 1999. Tui chub have been a problem in the lake, and it is hoped that the piscivorous (fish eating) Klamath trout are dining on the chubs. The wild rainbow population seems to be doing fine since habitat and structure restoration work in Odell Creek.

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