Recreation Report
Columbia Zone
Regulation Updates
Regulation Updates as of November 12, 2021
All regulations may be subject to in-season modification. Please see e-regulations for permanent regulations.
SALMON, STEELHEAD, and SHAD
Barbless Hooks are required when angling for salmon, steelhead, or trout in the mainstem Columbia River under permanent regulations.
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Fall Season (August 1-December 31)
- Also see regulations for Thermal Angling Sanctuaries for Columbia and associated tributaries (listed below) effective June 16 through the end of the year.
For all fall salmonid fisheries, 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.
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 the navigation light at Tongue Point on the Oregon shore.
General regulations through December 31: 1) adult coho are 16-inches and longer, and 2) wild coho must be released.
- Additional regulations by date period are described below:
- November 1 – December 31: Retention of hatchery coho (adults and jacksa) and hatchery steelhead allowed. All Chinook must be released. The daily adult bag limit is three hatchery salmonids, but only two may be hatchery steelhead
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 navigation marker at Tongue Point on the Oregon shore upstream to Bonneville Dam.
General regulations through December 31: 1) adult coho are 20-inches and longer, and 2) wild coho must be released.
- Additional regulations by date period are described below:
- November 1 – December 31: Retention of hatchery coho (adults and jacksa) and hatchery steelhead allowed. All Chinook must be released. The daily adult bag limit is two hatchery salmonids.
Bonneville Dam upstream to The Dalles Dam b
General regulations through December 31: 1) adult Chinook are 24-inches and longer, 2) adult coho are 20-inches and longer, 3) only hatchery coho (adults and jacks) may be retained downstream of the Hood River Bridge, and 4) retention of jack salmon allowed a.
- Additional regulations by date period are described below:
- November 1 – December 31: Retention of Chinook, coho, and hatchery steelhead allowed. The daily adult bag limit is two salmonids, but only one may be a Chinook.
The Dalles Dam upstream to Hwy 395 Bridge (Pasco, WA) b
General regulations through December 31: 1) adult Chinook are 24-inches and longer, 2), adult coho are 20-inches and longer, 3) all steelhead must be released September 1 – December 31, and 4) retention of jack salmon allowed a.
- Additional regulations by date period are described below:
- September 1 – December 31: Retention of Chinook and coho allowed. The daily adult bag limit is two salmonids, but only one may be a Chinook.
a The daily bag limit for jack salmon in Oregon is five fish.
b Temporary rules for Thermal Angling Sanctuaries associated with Eagle Creek, Herman Creek, and the Deschutes River are described below.
Columbia River Thermal Angling Sanctuaries and associated Oregon tributaries.
The sanctuary boundaries span zones so rule modifications are in both the Central and Columbia River zones.
Eagle Creek (Central Zone)
Area definition: From the angling deadline in Eagle Creek (200 feet downstream of hatchery fishway entrance) downstream to the mouth at the mainline railroad bridge.
- September 16 – November 30: Closed to salmon angling/retention.
- December 1 – 31: Permanent regulations apply
Eagle Creek Mouth (Columbia River Zone)
Area definition: The mainstem Columbia River adjacent to the mouth of Eagle Creek from the mainline railroad bridge northwest to a line projecting from a marker on the Oregon shore approximately 200 feet downstream of Eagle Creek, through red navigation buoy #4, and terminating at a marker on the Oregon shore approximately 325 feet upstream of Eagle Creek.
- September 16 – December 31: See rules for Columbia mainstem Bonneville Dam to The Dalles Dam.
Herman Creek (Columbia River Zone)
Area definition: From the mainline railroad bridge downstream to markers at mouth.
- July 15 – November 30: Closed to angling.
- December 1 – 31: See rules for Columbia mainstem Bonneville Dam to The Dalles Dam.
Herman Creek Lagoon (Columbia River Zone)
Area definition: Herman Creek Lagoon/Cove east of a line from the northwest tip of the jetty, south to a marker on the Oregon shore.
- September 16 – December 31: See rules for Columbia mainstem Bonneville Dam to The Dalles Dam.
Deschutes River (Central Zone)
Area definition: From markers at lower end of Moody Rapids downstream to the mouth at Interstate 84 Bridge.
- Closed to all angling through December 31.
Deschutes River Mouth (Columbia River Zone)
Area definition: The mainstem Columbia River adjacent to the mouth of the Deschutes River from the Interstate 84 Bridge north to a line projecting from the flashing red navigation marker #2 located approximately 1.5 miles downstream of the Deschutes River mouth on the Oregon shore, upstream to the red navigation marker #4, then to the lower South Channel Range “B” marker located on the Oregon shore approximately 0.7 mile upstream of the Deschutes River mouth.
- September 16 – December 31: See rules for Columbia mainstem from The Dalles Dam upstream to Hwy 395 Bridge.
John Day River (downstream of Tumwater Falls)
- September 1 – December 31: closed to steelhead retention
*Permanent regulations apply for other sections of the above tributaries
STURGEON
See 2021 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations for sanctuary areas, daily and annual bag limits.
COLUMBIA RIVER MAINSTEM, Buoy 10 to Bonneville Dam
- Area definition: From the Bonneville Dam deadline downstream to the mouth at Buoy 10, including Youngs Bay; and all adjacent Washington tributaries.
- Permanent rules for sturgeon are in effect, including closed to the retention of sturgeon. Catch-and-release fishing is allowed.
COLUMBIA RIVER RESERVOIRS, between Bonneville Dam and McNary Dam (Bonneville Pool, The Dalles Pool, John Day Pool)
- Bonneville, The Dalles, and John Day pools, including adjacent tributaries, are closed to the retention of sturgeon. Catch-and-release fishing is allowed.
COLUMBIA RIVER COMPACT ACTION NOTICES
Recreation Report
If there’s not a photo, it didn’t happen
Submit your fishing photo to ODFW and we might use it here or elsewhere on MyODFW.com.
Send us your fishing report
We’d love to hear about your recent fishing experience. Send us your own fishing report through ODFW Fishing Reports―the information will be forwarded to the local biologist who may use it to update various ODFW resources such as the weekly Recreation Report.
Free Fishing Days
#optoutside for Black Friday
The Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving are Free Fishing Days in Oregon. That means you can fish, crab or clam for free – no license, tag or endorsement required. Some restrictions apply, as in all current closures, bag limits and other regulations still apply. If you’re looking for a place to take the family, we’ve got 101 suggestions. And if you live near Portland, Bend, Medford, Roseburg, Lane County or on the south coast, there are lots of nearby options.
Help keep ODFW fish checkers safe
ODFW samplers (aka fish checkers) will be at docks, boat ramps, and bank areas in a number of locations along the Columbia and Willamette rivers to collect information required to manage fisheries. Your cooperation in maintaining a minimum of 6 ft. distancing and providing your catch for inspection and collection of sampling data in a safe manner is appreciated.
Emergency fishing regulations: Where to find them
With all the special regulations currently in place to help protect fish during the ongoing drought, we keep telling anglers to be sure to check for regulation changes before they head out. But where do you find them? The latest regulation updates are always at the top the Recreation Report under the zone for which the regulations apply.
FISHING UPDATES
Current and upcoming fishing opportunities:
- As of Nov. 1, fall salmon season is open for hatchery coho and hatchery steelhead from Buoy 10 to Bonneville Dam. Bonneville Dam upstream to the Dalles Dam is open for Chinook, hatchery steelhead, and coho, only hatchery coho (adults and jacks) may be retained downstream of the Hood River Bridge. The Dalles Dam to the Oregon/Washington border above McNary Dam is open for Chinook and coho. Please refer to the latest regulation updates for bag limits.
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 2022.
Bonneville Pool (Bonneville Dam upstream to The Dalles Dam):
Weekly checking showed 11 adult coho kept for 22 boats (45 anglers).
The Dalles Pool (The Dalles Dam upstream to John Day Dam):
No report.
John Day Pool (Columbia River above John Day Dam and John Day Arm):
Weekly checking showed no catch for one boat (two anglers).
STURGEON
Bonneville Pool:
Closed for retention. Weekly checking showed 6 sublegal released for one boat (three anglers).
The Dalles Pool:
Closed for retention. Weekly checking showed 5 sublegal released for one boat (four anglers).
John Day Pool:
Closed for retention. Weekly checking showed two sublegal and two legal released for one boat (four anglers).
WALLEYE
Bonneville Pool:
No report.
The Dalles Pool:
Weekly checking showed no catch for one boat (two anglers).
John Day Pool:
Weekly checking showed four walleye kept and four walleye released for three boats (three anglers).