6 Alerts
X
North coast salmon closures

Effective December 13 through December 31, 2019, salmon fishing is closed along the north coast from the Nestucca River to the Necanicum River.

SW Zone Emergency Closure Lifted

Effective Dec. 7, the emergency angling closures in the Winchuck, Chetco, Elk and Sixes Rivers will be lifted.

Wilson River closed to salmon

Effective Dec.7 through Dec. 31, 2019 closed to salmon fishing.

Bag limit reduces on the Snake River

Effective October 19, the daily bag limit reduces for adult hatchery Chinook 

Snake River - wild Chinook bag limit changes

Retention of wild adult fall Chinook salmon is prohibited effective Oct. 5, 2019.

Umatilla and Walla Walla bag limits reduced

Steelhead, fall Chinook and coho bag limits reduced to one per day.

Menu
Recreation Report

Columbia Zone

Regulation Updates

Regulation Updates as of  December 6, 2019

These are in-season regulation changes adopted on a temporary or emergency basis. Please see e-regulations for permanent regulations.

Quick Links:

SALMON, STEELHEAD, and SHAD

*   Night angling closure

** Jack bag limit

STURGEON

All regulations may be subject to in-season modifications.

SALMON, STEELHEAD, and SHAD

  • Fall Season (August 1-December 31 timeframe)

COLUMBIA RIVER, Buoy 10

  • Area definition:  From the Buoy 10 line upstream to a line projected from Rocky Point on the Washington shore through red navigation buoy #44 to red navigation marker #2 at Tongue Point on the Oregon shore.
  • October 1 – December 31:  Retention of hatchery coho and hatchery steelhead allowed.  Retention of all Chinook prohibited.  The daily adult bag limit is two hatchery salmonids (coho and steelhead only), and may include up to one hatchery steelhead.  Hatchery coho jacks may be retained**. Night angling closure in effect*.

Columbia River boundary map Tongue Point

COLUMBIA RIVER, Tongue Point/Rocky Point upstream to Bonneville Dam

  • Area definition: From a line projected from Rocky Point on the Washington shore through red navigation buoy #44 to the red navigation marker #2 at Tongue Point on the Oregon shore upstream to Bonneville Dam.
  • November 1 – December 31:   Retention of adult hatchery coho (longer than 20-inches) and hatchery steelhead allowed. Retention of all Chinook prohibited.  The daily adult bag limit is two hatchery salmonids (coho and steelhead only) and may include up to one hatchery steelhead. Hatchery coho jacks may be retained.  Each legal angler aboard a vessel may continue to deploy angling gear until the daily adult salmonid bag limit for all anglers aboard has been achieved.  Night angling closure in effect*. All other permanent rules apply.

COLUMBIA RIVER, Bonneville Dam upstream to The Dalles Dam

  • November 1-December 31:  Angling for and retention of all salmon (adults and jacks) and all steelhead prohibited.

COLUMBIA RIVER, The Dalles Dam upstream to McNary Dam

  • Angling for and retention of all salmon (adults and jacks) and all steelhead prohibited for the remainder of the year.

COLUMBIA RIVER, McNary Dam upstream to the OR/WA Border (upstream of McNary Dam)

  • Angling for and retention of all salmon (adults and jacks) and all steelhead prohibited for the remainder of the year. 

*       Night angling closure: Unlawful to angle for or take salmon, shad, steelhead, sturgeon, trout, or whitefish except during daylight hours (one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset).

**    The daily bag limit for jack salmon in Oregon is five fish.

STURGEON

All permanent regulations for sturgeon apply unless noted below (see e-regulations).

COLUMBIA RIVER MAINSTEM, Buoy 10 to Wauna Powerlines

  • Permanent rules for sturgeon are in effect, including closed to the retention of sturgeon, (see e-regulations). Catch-and-release fishing is allowed the remainder of the year. All other permanent rules apply.

COLUMBIA RIVER MAINSTEM, Wauna Powerlines to Bonneville Dam

  • Permanent rules for sturgeon are in effect, including closed to the retention of sturgeon, (see e-regulations). Catch-and-release fishing is allowed.  All other permanent rules apply.

COLUMBIA RIVER RESERVOIRS, between Bonneville Dam and McNary Dam

  • Permanent rules for sturgeon are in effect, including closed to the retention of sturgeon, (see e-regulations). Catch-and-release fishing is allowed.  All other permanent rules apply.

Columbia River Compact Action Notices

Columbia River Management Fact Sheets

Columbia River Information 

Columbia River Dam Counts

Recreation Report

We want your photos

Attention anglers – we want your photos!

Whether you’re out after trout or bass, steelhead or salmon, surfperch or rockfish, we’d love to see photos of your adventure. When you submit your photos to ODFW they could appear on our website or signs, or in social or brochures. What a great way to share your experience with others!

Photo submission form

Current and upcoming fishing opportunities:

  • Coho and steelhead fishing is open from Buoy 10 upstream to Bonneville Dam (see Sport Fishing Regulations Updates page for retention details).

 

Columbia River regulation updates for salmon, steelhead, shad and sturgeon can be found above.

Salmon, Steelhead and Shad

The salmonid creel program on the lower Columbia has ended for the year and will resume February of 2020.

STURGEON

Bonneville Pool (Bonneville Dam upstream to The Dalles Dam):

Closed for retention.  Weekly checking showed no catch for one boat (three anglers).

The Dalles Pool (The Dalles Dam upstream to John Day Dam): 

Closed for retention.  No report.

John Day Pool (John Day Dam upstream to McNary Dam):

Closed for retention.  No report.

WALLEYE

Bonneville Pool:  No report.

The Dalles Pool: No report.

John Day Pool: Weekly checking showed no catch for one bank angler; and two walleye released for one boat (two anglers).

John Day Arm:  No report.

White sturgeon retention is closed from Buoy 10 upstream to McNary Dam, but remains an option for catch-and-release fishing.