Recreation Report
Columbia Zone
Regulation Updates
Regulation Updates as of January 3, 2022.
All regulations may be subject to in-season modification. Please see e-regulations for permanent regulations.
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SALMON, STEELHEAD, and SHAD
Barbless Hooks are required when angling for salmon, steelhead, or trout in the mainstem Columbia River under permanent regulations.
Steelhead closure
- Effective January 1 through March 31, the Columbia River from The Dalles Dam upstream to the Oregon-Washington border (upstream of McNary Dam) is closed to angling for and retention of all salmon and steelhead.
- All other permanent rules for the Columbia River Zone, as stated in the 2022 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations, remain in effect.
Buoy 10 upstream to I-5 Bridge
- Effective January 1, 2022: permanent rules are in effect, including open to the retention of hatchery chinook and hatchery steelhead. See e-regulations for additional details.
I-5 Bridge upstream to The Dalles Dam
- Effective January 1, 2022: permanent rules are in effect, including open to the retention of hatchery steelhead. See e-regulations for additional details.
The Dalles Dam upstream to the Oregon-Washington border above McNary Dam
- Effective January 1 – March 31, 2022: Closed to angling for and retention of all salmon and steelhead.
STURGEON
See 2022 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations for legal size, daily and annual bag limits and sanctuary closure areas.
COLUMBIA RIVER MAINSTEM, Buoy 10 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 except in sanctuary closure areas during May 1-August 31.
COLUMBIA RIVER RESERVOIRS, between Bonneville Dam and McNary Dam (Bonneville Pool, The Dalles Pool, John Day Pool)
All regulations may be subject to in-season modification to remain within pool specific catch guidelines for sturgeon (Bonneville Pool-500, The Dalles Pool-190, John Day Pool-105).
Bonneville Reservoir (Bonneville Dam upstream to The Dalles Dam)
- Effective January 1, 2022: permanent rules for sturgeon are in effect, including open to the retention of white sturgeon until guideline reached.
The Dalles Reservoir (The Dalles Dam upstream to John Day Dam)
- Effective January 1 – January 26, 2022 (or until guideline reached): The Dalles Pool and adjacent tributaries will be open to retention of white sturgeon on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays only (12 days) or until guideline reached. No retention of sturgeon allowed on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays.
- Daily bag limit is one white sturgeon, 43-54 inches fork length (fork length is measured in a straight line from the tip of the nose to the fork in the caudal fin (tail) with the fish laying on its side on a flat surface, with the tape measure/ruler positioned flat under the fish).
- Annual bag limit is two white sturgeon.
- Catch-and-release fishing is allowed. All other permanent rules apply.
John Day Reservoir (John Day Dam upstream to McNary Dam)
- Effective January 1, 2022: permanent rules for sturgeon are in effect, including open to the retention of white sturgeon until guideline reached.
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.
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:
- White sturgeon retention fisheries open above Bonneville Dam, upstream to McNary Dam, on Jan. 1. Bonneville and John Day Pools are open 7 days a week until guideline reached. The Dalles Pool is open to retention three days a week, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays, until guideline reached. Please refer to the latest regulation updates for detailed information.
- Effective Jan. 1 through March 31, the Columbia River from The Dalles Dam upstream to the Oregon-Washington border (upstream of McNary Dam) is closed to angling for and retention of all salmon and steelhead.
- All other permanent rules for the Columbia River Zone, as stated in the 2022 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations, remain in effect.
Columbia River regulation updates for salmon, steelhead, shad and sturgeon can be found above.
SALMON, STEELHEAD, AND SHAD
The Columbia Sport creel program has ended for the year and will resume February of 2022. Recreation Report updates also will resume in February.
STURGEON
Bonneville, The Dalles and John Day Pools: Cold, wintery weather limited interest in the sturgeon fishery during the week, but the sunny weekend weather saw a marked increase in efforts. Catch rates remain scattered across all three pools.
- Bonneville Pool has reached around 38 percent of harvest guidelines.
- The Dalles Pool is around 16 percent.
- John Day Pool is still just below 10 percent.