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Report your big game or turkey hunt by Jan. 31

Avoid the phone queue and report your hunt through an ODFW license agent. Find a list of license agents here.

Bonneville Pool closes to sturgeon retention

The Bonneville Pool on the Columbia River will close to sturgeon retention at midnight on Jan. 7.

The Dalles Pool closes to sturgeon retention

The sturgeon quota in The Dalles Pool has been met. The pool closed to retention at midnight on Jan. 4.

ODFW offices close to public access

Beginning March 23, all ODFW offices will be closed to visitors. ODFW staff will be available by phone and email.

ODFW hatcheries closed to public, visitors

Effective March 18, all state-owned fish hatcheries are closed to public access and visitors. Trout stocking in lakes and ponds continues for now.

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Recreation Report

Columbia Zone

Regulation Updates

Regulation Updates as of  January 6, 2020

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

The sturgeon quotas in The Dalles and Bonneville pools have been met. The Dalles Pool closed to retention at midnight on Jan. 4 and Bonneville Pool closes at midnight Jan. 7.

SALMON, STEELHEAD, and SHAD

Barbless Hooks are required when angling for salmon, steelhead, or trout in the mainstem Columbia River under permanent regulations.

Quick Links

STURGEON

Buoy 10 upstream to I-5 Bridge:

  • Effective January 1, 2021: 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 Bonneville Dam:

  • Effective January 1, 2021: permanent rules are in effect, including open to the retention of hatchery steelhead. See e-regulations for additional details.

Bonneville Dam upstream to The Dalles Dam

  • Effective January 1, 2021: permanent rules are in effect, including open to the retention of hatchery steelhead. See e-regulations.

The Dalles Dam upstream to Hwy 395 Bridge (Pasco, WA)

  • Effective January 1, 2021-March 31, 2021: Retention of hatchery steelhead allowed with a one steelhead adult daily bag limit. All other permanent rules apply including the release of all Chinook, Coho, and wild steelhead.

STURGEON

See 2021 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations for legal size, daily, and annual bag limits.

COLUMBIA RIVER RESERVOIRS, between Bonneville Dam and McNary Dam (Bonneville Pool, The Dalles Pool, John Day Pool)

Bonneville Reservoir (Bonneville Dam upstream to The Dalles Dam)

  • Effective Friday, January 8, 2021: Bonneville Pool and adjacent tributaries will be closed to the retention of white sturgeon. Catch-and-release fishing is allowed except in sanctuary closure areas during May 1-August 31.

The Dalles Reservoir (The Dalles Dam upstream to John Day Dam)

  • Effective Tuesday, January 5, 2021: The Dalles Pool and adjacent tributaries will be closed to the retention of white sturgeon. Catch-and-release fishing is allowed except in sanctuary closure areas during May 1-August 31.

John Day Reservoir (John Day Dam upstream to McNary Dam)

  • Effective January 1, 2021: permanent rules for sturgeon are in effect, including open to the retention of white sturgeon until quota (105 fish) reached.

COLUMBIA RIVER COMPACT ACTION NOTICES

COLUMBIA RIVER MANAGEMENT FACT SHEETS

COLUMBIA RIVER INFORMATION

COLUMBIA RIVER DAM COUNTS

Recreation Report

Chinook salmon
Bob Lum taking advantage of recent reopening of the Columbia for Chinook salmon. Photo by Thomas Lum

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.

FISHING UPDATES

Tips to recreate responsibly

We continue to urge anglers and others recreating outside to stay close to home, keep your social distance, and travel safely. Here’s more information about how to recreate responsibly.

Current and upcoming fishing opportunities:

  • Effective Jan. 1, 2021, salmonid fisheries from Buoy 10 upstream to The Dalles Dam open under permanent rules. Consult the angling regulation pamphlet for additional information. A few winter steelhead should be available on the beaches of the lower Columbia River.
  • Effective Jan. 1, 2021, steelhead fisheries from The Dalles Dam upstream to the Hwy 395 Bridge near Pasco, Washington remain open under previously adopted rules including the one steelhead bag limit (see Sport Fishing Regulations Updates page for additional regulation details).
  • White sturgeon retention is closed from Buoy 10 upstream to the John Day Dam but remains an option for catch-and-release fishing (see Sport Fishing Regulations Updates page for additional regulation details).
  • The retention of white sturgeon is allowed from the John Day Dam upstream to McNary Dam. Consult the angling regulation pamphlet for size limits, and daily and annual bag limits. Sturgeon fisheries in the John Day Pool are managed on a quota basis and can close on short notice. Sturgeon anglers should check the weather before planning a trip into the gorge.

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

SALMON, STEELHEAD AND SHAD

The Columbia River salmonid creel programs have ended for the year and will resume February 2021.

STURGEON

Bonneville Pool:

Closed for retention effective 11:59 PM Jan. 7, 2021. No report.

The Dalles Pool:

Closed for retention effective 11:59 pm Jan. 4, 2021. No report.

John Day Pool:

No report.