John Day Pool closes to sturgeon Jan. 30

Sunday, Jan. 29, is the last scheduled day to retain sturgeon in the John Day Pool.

The Dalles Pool closes to sturgeon Jan. 26

 Wednesday, Jan. 25, is the last scheduled day to retain sturgeon in The Dalles Pool.

Report your 2022 hunt by Jan. 31

If you bought a tag you must report, even if you weren't successful or didn't hunt.

South coast closes to crabbing

Recreational crabbing closed from north of Charleston to north of Gold Beach due to elevated levels of domoic acid.

Rogue-South Coast steelhead validation starts Jan. 1

Beginning Jan. 1, 2023, anglers in Rogue and South Coast rivers will need the new steelhead validation and harvest tag to fish for and harvest wild winter steelhead.

Razor clamming closed from Columbia River to CA border.

Due to high levels of domoic acid, razor clamming is closed along the entire Oregon coast.

Recreation Report

Columbia Zone

Table of Contents

Recreation Report

    Columbia River Chinook
    "Caught my King (Chinook) in less than 1 hr of trying!" Columbia River, Buoy 10 -Photo by Julie Kasler-

    Jan. 25, 2023

    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.

    Current and upcoming fishing opportunities

    • Retention of hatchery steelhead is allowed from Buoy 10 to the Dalles Dam through March 31, 2023.
    • Retention of hatchery Chinook is allowed from Buoy 10 to the I-5 Bridge Jan. 1 – March 31, 2023.
    • Effective 11:59 PM Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023 the retention of white sturgeon in The Dalles Pool (Bonneville Dam upstream to John Day Dam and all adjacent tributaries) is prohibited.
    • White sturgeon retention is open in the John Day Pool (John Day Dam upstream to McNary Dam and all adjacent tributaries) Jan. 1 – Jan. 29. 
    • Please refer to the latest regulation updates for detailed information.

    Announcements

    2023 spring forecast

    Sign up for the latest information on boater access

    Marine Board’s Opportunities and Access Report incorporates information from federal and state agencies, local facility operators and fellow boaters to provide up-to-date information so boaters can decide where to recreate and what to expect this season. Subscribe to receive email updates.

    Find Columbia River regulation updates for salmon, steelhead, shad and sturgeon by clicking the Regulation Updates button.

    Salmon, steelhead, and shad

    The Columbia Sport creel program has ended for the year and will resume February of 2023.

    Sturgeon

    Bonneville, The Dalles, and John Day Pools: Interest in the sturgeon retention fishery remained high, and warmer water conditions have improved the bite.

    • Bonneville Pool is now closed to retention.
    • The Dalles Pool is now closed to retention.
    • John Day Pool: Anglers caught 76 percent of the harvest guideline through Jan 23.