Northeast Zone

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!

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Weekend fishing opportunities:

• To help protect you and others during the COVID-19 pandemic, take the following precautions when fishing: follow social distancing guidelines when bank fishing, only fish from a boat with other members of your household, carry your own hand sanitizer or soap/water, and, if a place is crowded, go somewhere else.
• Water conditions should be good for steelhead fishing on the John Day River, but with many closures, be sure to plan your trip accordingly. All boating is closed on the John Day River from Kimberly to Tumwater Falls, and BLM/Oregon State Park campgrounds and facilities are closed.
• This is a good time of year to target kokanee on Wallowa Lake.
• Tatone and McNary ponds have been stocked with trout recently.
• Marr Pond has been stocked with surplus steelhead. This is a good opportunity for small children to catch a big fish.

TROUT STOCKING MAP

Fishing, hunting and wildlife viewing remain open
Access may be tricky – know before you go

Fishing, hunting and wildlife viewing in Oregon remain open. However, Oregon State Parks as well as several cities and counties have closed parks, boat ramps and other facilities that could hinder access to your favorite spots. This list of closures changes quickly, so it’s a good idea to call the land manager and confirm access before you go.

City and county parks

Check the website of the local parks department for access information.

State agencies

Oregon State Parks have closed all parks and recreation areas. This does not include the ocean shore.
Oregon Department of Forestry manages Oregon state forests.
Oregon State Marine Board has an interactive map showing the locations of boat launches/ramps and who owns them. Use this information to contact the owner about access.

Federal agencies 

US Forest Service has shut down developed recreation sites, but lands remain open.
BLM has closed developed recreation sites, but lands remain open.
US Army Corps of Engineers has closed access, trailheads and improved recreation sites in several locations.

Trout stocking schedule offline

We have taken down the online trout stocking schedule in order to prevent public crowding at waterbodies when we deliver hatchery fish. We will continue stocking trout but we will deliver on a slightly different schedule and at some different locations to avoid a rush of anglers showing up along with the hatchery truck.

NOTE: Local ODFW offices do not have access to the trout stocking schedule either.

ALDRICH PONDS (Roosevelt and Stewart Lakes): trout (2 fish limit)

The access road to the parking area will be closed Dec. 1 and reopens April 15.  Full closure of the Wildlife Area is from Feb. 1 through April 14.   

BULL PRAIRIE RESERVOIR: rainbow trout

The reservoir was stocked last year with trophy and legal-size trout. Access to the lake may be hampered by snow and ice.

GRANDE RONDE RIVER: trout, whitefish, bass, steelhead

The Grande Ronde is currently running a bit high, but the forecast calls for it to drop significantly into next week and be good shape for fishing.

Fishing for steelhead in late winter and early spring can be quite good if flows cooperate. During this time, fishing pressure is typically low and anglers will find a lot of water to fish. The daily steelhead bag limit is one hatchery steelhead through April 30, 2020.

Poor returns of steelhead are forecasted for the Snake River Basin prompting managers to reduce bag limits to ensure hatchery production can be met.

HOLLIDAY PARK POND: rainbow trout

The pond is currently closed to all access as Oregon State Parks have closed facilities in response to Covid-19 prevention measures.

HUNTER POND: rainbow trout

Winter conditions will prevent vehicle access to this pond until spring.

From I-84 take Hwy 244 towards Ukiah. At the Blue Mountains summit, turn left onto USFS Rd 5160. Proceed for approximately 3 miles to the junction of roads 5160 and 5155. Stay on 5160. Just past this junction on the right take spur 710. The pond is just off 5160.

IMNAHA RIVER: trout, whitefish, bass, steelhead

Late winter and early spring is the best time of year to fish the Imnaha. Steelhead are moving into the Imnaha River from the Snake River on their final push toward the hatchery facility on Little Sheep Creek.

Anglers are reporting fair fishing and flows are forecasted to be good over the next week. Look for steelhead fishing to improve through April as long as flows cooperate.

Steelhead season is open with a reduced daily bag limit of one hatchery steelhead through April 30, 2020. Poor returns of steelhead are forecasted for the Snake River Basin prompting managers to reduce bag limits to ensure hatchery production can be met.

Anglers should expect success rates to improve toward the end of February when steelhead make their push toward the hatchery facility.

JOHN DAY RIVER: steelhead

Steelhead have entered the John Day River but forecast numbers are low again this year. Anglers reported reasonable success in October and November. We have received a few reports of angler success as high as Kimberly, and steelhead are in the North Fork between Monument and Kimberly.

Recent reports indicate fishing has been slow in the Service Creek and Kimberly areas, but steelhead are moving up river with each flow pulse.

The Oregon State Marine Board has closed all boating on the John Day River from Kimberly to Tumwater Falls. Bank fishing is still an option, although BLM and Oregon State Park campgrounds and facilities are closed at this time due to preventative measures to stop the spread of Covid-19. Be sure to check recent closures before you go, and be aware of private land boundaries.

Steelhead fishing below Tumwater Falls is open with a daily bag limit of one hatchery steelhead through April 30, 2020. Above Tumwater Falls the daily bag limit is three hatchery steelhead and anglers are encouraged to keep hatchery steelhead and use safe fish handling ethics to release wild steelhead.

LONG CREEK POND, CAVENDER POND: rainbow trout, largemouth bass

No recent reports, but fish should hold well at both Long Creek and Cavender after summer trout stockings.

LUGER POND: rainbow trout

Winter conditions will prevent vehicle access to this pond until spring.

Take the Palmer Junction Road north out of Elgin about 10 miles to USFS 63. Follow USFS 63 for about 9 miles, then left on USFS 6306. Luger Pond is 2.5 miles on the right, near Luger Springs campground.

MAGONE LAKE: rainbow and brook trout

Ice conditions are unknown at this time. Conditions may change at any time with weather, so follow all precautions and carry chains.

Currently access will be difficult due to recent snowy weather. Four-wheel drive access may be possible via Hwy 395/Beech Creek. The Malheur National Forest has closed boat ramps and picnic areas in response to slowing the spread of Covid-19. These closures affect Magone Lake access, so plan accordingly.

McNARY PONDS: walleye

The ponds have been stocked with trout.

The ponds have a surprisingly good population of walleye, highest numbers are in the Social Security Pond, which also provides good bank access. Look for the deepest areas and use worms fished near the bottom and plastic grubs. The ponds are also open to non-motorized boats.

MORGAN LAKE: rainbow trout

The lake is closed to fishing until April 22, 2020.

PEACH (LADD) POND: rainbow trout

The pond is ice-free and will receive the first stocking of rainbow trout later this spring. Until then, fishing will be slow.

An ADA accessible fishing platform was constructed at the pond in 2018.

ROULET POND: rainbow trout

The pond is ice-free. Expect fishing to be slow until the first stocking of rainbow trout later this spring.

An ADA accessible fishing platform was constructed at the pond in 2018.

ROWE CREEK RESERVOIR: rainbow trout

The reservoir was stocked this summer, but no reports have been received since the recent cold weather.

TATONE POND: rainbow trout

The pond has been stocked.

TAYLOR GREEN POND: rainbow trout

Winter conditions will prevent vehicle access to this pond until later in the spring.

From Hwy 203 at Union, turn left staying on Hwy 203 towards Medical Springs. At the summit between Union and Medical Springs, turn left onto USFS Road 7700 (opposite Sno-Park area). Proceed East on 7700 road for about 9 miles to USFS Road 7740 on the right. There is a popular camping area just beyond the 7740 road on the right. Proceed on the 7740 road for about 1/4 mile. The rock pit and pond are on the right.

TWIN PONDS (Ukiah): trout

Twin Ponds were stocked twice last year, but fishing and access may be hampered due to snow and ice.

UMATILLA RIVER: steelhead

Steelhead return numbers are running well below average, but river conditions are good. Counting at Threemile dam has been discontinued until further notice. Since the first of March, 69 steelhead have returned to Three Mile Dam, putting the total return to date at 1,030 steelhead.

Umatilla River flows and river conditions are perfect, post flood boaters should be cautious of new boating hazards, as the flood moved lots of trees into the river channel. Fish should now be spreading throughout the system.

Anglers are reminded of the reduced steelhead bag limit of one hatchery steelhead through April 15.  Fishing for steelhead will be closed beginning on April 16, 2020.

Effective April 16 through June 10, the Umatilla River will be CLOSED for Chinook salmon fishing due to low expected spring Chinook returns.

Anglers can access fish counts at Three Mile Dam fish counts. Find flow data.

WALLOWA COUNTY PONDS: rainbow trout

Marr Pond has been stocked with surplus steelhead. This is a good opportunity for young children to catch a big fish. Remember that once these fish are moved to Marr Pond, they are considered trout, where harvest of one fish over 20 inches per day is allowed. 

These Wallowa County ponds are stocked in spring/early summer: HONEYOON POND | KINNEY LAKE | MARR POND | MCGRAW POND | SALT CREEK SUMMIT POND | TEEPEE POND | VICTOR POND | WEAVER POND

WALLOWA LAKE: rainbow trout, kokanee, lake trout

Recent reports suggest good size kokanee are available for the determined angler. Fishing for holdover trout can be good during late winter and early spring. Expect natural baits to be successful as stocked trout have been in the lake long enough to key in on food items in the lake.

WALLOWA RIVER: steelhead, mountain whitefish, trout

Steelhead fishing on the Wallowa River has been good with respectable catch rates. Flows are forecasted to remain good for fishing over the next week. 

Steelhead season is open with a reduced daily bag limit of one hatchery steelhead through April 30, 2020. Poor returns of steelhead are forecasted for the Snake River Basin prompting managers to reduce bag limits to ensure hatchery production can be met.

Managers will continue to evaluate the run and adjust bag limits as necessary.

Expect steelhead fishing to improve as winter progresses and fish continue to move from the Grande Ronde River into the Wallowa River.

WILLOW CREEK RESERVOIR: trout

Early spring is the best time to target rainbow trout at Willow Creek. Anglers do well with worms and PowerBait fished on the bottom from shore.