Northeast Zone

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Best bets for weekend fishing

• There are some nice kokanee (16-18 inches) available in Wallowa Lake.
• Wallowa and Jubilee lakes have recently been stocked.
• There have been reports of some excellent bass fishing on the lower John Day.
• Magone Lake has been recently stocked and fishing should be excellent.
• Trout fishing on the Walla Walla River has been good thanks to more consistent flows.
• With warmer water temperatures, fishing for bass and crappie on Willow Creek Reservoir has been good.
• The high country has begun to melt out and fishing high mountain lakes will be an option throughout the rest of the summer. Here are some tips for fishing these hike-in lakes and a link to lakes that have been stocked.

Recently stocked

Scheduled to be stocked this week:

Wallowa Lake.

Recently stocked: (two weeks ago)

Jubilee Lake.

Check the 2022 trout stocking schedule.

Trout stocking maps

Check out the ODFW fishing and trout stocking maps to find nearby fishing locations, driving directions and descriptions of amenities.

Announcements

Fishing in hot water

With extreme temperatures in the forecast, fish will start feeling the heat. Give them a break by remembering these five tips for fishing when water temperatures are high.

Recreating during drought

Drought persists in eastern Oregon. If you live there, or you plan to visit this summer on vacation, here’s what the drought might mean for hunters, anglers and wildlife viewers.

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.

Updates by waterbody

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

Access to the ponds is open and fishing has been excellent. Stocking for this year has occurred recently, and recent reports indicate catch rates are excellent. Last updated 7/6/22.

CAVENDER POND (Monument, OR): trout, largemouth bass

A significant fish kill occurred at this site during the summer of 2021. Stocking has occurred for the 2022 season, so fishing for trout should be very good. Assessments will be made later in the summer to see how the largemouth bass fared after the fish kill event. Last updated 6/8/22.

GRANDE RONDE RIVER: trout, whitefish, bass

Flows on the Grande Ronde River are approaching base flows. Anglers have had success fishing for trout in the Grande Ronde River between the Wallowa River and Troy with some nice fish being caught.

With the onset of warmer weather, bass fishing may be good on the lower Grande Ronde River downstream to the state boundary. Anglers are reminded that bull trout and Chinook salmon may be encountered in the Grande Ronde River and must be released unharmed. Last updated 7/27/22.

HAT ROCK POND: trout

The Hat Rock Pond was stocked the week of April 15. With water temperatures starting to warm up and the forecast looking good all week, get out and enjoy some early trout fishing. Trout are likely to be the most active in the early morning and late evening hours. Anglers should catch fish using PowerBait, worms, or spinning lures. Last updated 4/20/22.

IMNAHA RIVER: trout, whitefish, bass

Trout fishing has been good in some portions of the Imnaha River. With warmer weather, trout fishing will likely be best in the middle and upper portions of the Imnaha River.

Bass have been caught in the lower river, and bass fishing will be an option for anglers on the lower Imnaha throughout the rest of the summer.

Fishing for Chinook Salmon is closed on the Imnaha River. Any Chinook salmon or bull trout encountered must be released unharmed. Last updated 7/27/22.

JOHN DAY RIVER:

Conditions for bass and catfish fishing are improving now that we are in a pattern of drier weather. Flows have been higher than usual for this time of year and floating with a raft or other smaller craft will remain viable for the next few weeks. We’ve had recent reports of excellent bass fishing in the lower sections of the John Day up to the North Fork confluence. Last updated 7/6/22.

LOOKINGGLASS CREEK: trout

Lookingglass Creek is closed to fishing for hatchery spring Chinook salmon.

Anglers are reminded that bull trout may be encountered in Lookingglass Creek and must be released unharmed. Last updated 6/28/22.

MAGONE LAKE: rainbow and brook trout

Magone Lake is an excellent bet for fishing this time of year, and reports have been very good for recently stocked rainbow trout. Last updated on 7/6/22.

McNARY PONDS: walleye, bass and trout.

The McNary Ponds were stocked the week of June 13. With water temperatures starting to warm up and the forecast looking good all week, get out and enjoy some early trout fishing. Trout are likely to be the most active in the early morning and late evening hours. Anglers should find success using power bait, worms or spinning lures. All ponds were stocked evenly so there should be fish to catch in each. Last updated 6/22/22.

MORGAN LAKE: rainbow trout and bass

Morgan Lake opened for fishing on April 22, 2022. Follow this link for more information about recreation at Morgan Lake. Last updated 5/4/22.

UMATILLA RIVER: spring Chinook, bass and walleye, trout

Trout fishing on the Umatilla River, and its tributaries, is currently open and will remain open until Oct. 31. Trout fishing can be good in the upper headwaters of the Umatilla, bull trout are not to be targeted and if caught released unharmed. Bass and other warmwater species remain open all year. Last updated 7/13/22.

WALLA WALLA RIVER:

Trout fishing on the Walla Walla, and its tributaries, is open through until Oct. 31. Fishing on the Walla Walla has been good in the past week or more with the flows being consistent. Anglers have found success in the smaller pools using both dry flies, nymph flies and small spoons. It is illegal to target bull trout in this stream and anglers so immediately release a bull trout if caught. Last updated 7/13/22.  

WALLOWA COUNTY PONDS: rainbow trout

Several local ponds have been stocked this year with rainbow trout including some larger fish over 16 inches. Casting spinners or flies can be effective for catching fish at Marr Pond. Using bait can also be a productive method for fishing for trout at the local Wallowa County ponds. Last updated 7/13/22.

WALLOWA LAKE: rainbow trout, kokanee, lake trout

There are some nice kokanee available this year with some fish around 16 – 18 inches. Jigging and trolling for kokanee can both be productive ways of fishing for them in Wallowa Lake. Fishing for kokanee and trout has remained good over the last couple weeks despite the recent warm weather. However, as the lake warms the behavior of kokanee in particular may change as they move deeper to cooler water. Last updated 7/27/22.

Here are some tips on how and where to fish for kokanee:  Kokanee fishing in Oregon: 9 tips for catching kokanee.

WALLOWA RIVER: whitefish, trout

Flows have been steadily dropping on the Wallowa River, and trout fishing has been good at times. A variety of hatches have occurred over the summer, and flies that imitate terrestrial insects like grasshoppers may be good options throughout the late summer. Casting spinners also may be a good way to catch trout in the Wallowa River.

As of July 25, 2022, fishing for Chinook salmon is now closed on the Wallowa River. Anglers are reminded that any Chinook salmon or bull trout caught in the Wallowa River must be immediately released. Last updated 7/27/22.

WILLOW CREEK RESERVOIR: trout, crappie, bass

Willow Creek provides a great opportunity for anglers and the boat ramp is accessible. With the recent warming trend this is great place for anglers looking to get out and catch trout, bass and crappie this time of year. There is lots of bank access and also a fishing dock. Anglers should concentrate on the areas where there is structure early morning and late afternoon.

Fishing has been good for both crappie and bass now that the water temperatures have warmed. Small jigs for crappie and swim baits for bass have been the ticket. Last updated 7/11/22.