PRINEVILLE, Ore. - The stream was so packed with anglers, it was hard to find a rock to stand on.

Dozens of fishermen lined the banks of the Crooked River south of Prineville on an unseasonably warm fall day to try their hand at landing some native redband trout or whitefish.

The Crooked is always a popular fishing destination in central Oregon, but this time of year it becomes even more so.

As many lakes and river sections close to fishing for the season, anglers' options dwindle. The Crooked River, which remains open year-round, is well-known as a reliable place to catch sizable wild trout. The Crooked below Bowman Dam - about a 40-minute drive from Bend - is an ideal place to fly-fish.

Population surveys conducted by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife indicate an increase in the number of redband trout per mile on the Crooked, according to Erik Moberly, assistant district fish biologist for the ODFW in Bend.

"The anglers have stated that the fishing has been fair to good in the Crooked," Moberly said. "From what I've heard, fishing seems to be pretty stable on the Crooked River."

In addition to the Crooked, other central Oregon rivers remain open to fishing year-round. The Middle Deschutes, from Bend to Lake Billy Chinook, holds opportunity but becomes a challenge when the water flows increase as river diversion for irrigation ceases.

Moberly noted that some of the best places to fish on the Middle Deschutes include Foley Waters and Steelhead Falls, both located near Crooked River Ranch. The Upper Deschutes, upstream of Benham Falls, is closed to fishing for the winter.

Other area rivers that offer wintertime trout fishing include the Fall River, just south of Sunriver, and the Metolius River, just northwest of Sisters. The Metolius River upstream of Allingham Bridge is closed to fishing for the winter.

The majority of the high Cascade lakes in central Oregon closed to fishing for the winter - but not all of them. Crescent, Cultus, Davis and North Twin lakes are a few water bodies that remain open.