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Northeast Zone
Table of Contents
Recreation Report
July 10, 2024
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.
Best bets for weekend fishing
- Jubilee Lake should provide good trout fishing into the summer.
- Wallowa Lake can have good fishing for rainbow trout throughout the summer.
- This is the perfect time of year for bass fishing the John Day.
- Magone Lake is a popular retreat to escape the summer heat and catch some trout.
Trout stocking
Scheduled to be stocked the week of July 8:
No stocking scheduled for this week.
Recently stocked:
Wallowa Wildlife Pond, Grande Ronde Lake, Kinney Lake, Wallowa Lake, Jubilee Lake, Marr Pond
Trout stocking maps
Check out the ODFW fishing and trout stocking maps to find nearby fishing locations, driving directions and descriptions of amenities.
Announcements
5 tips for fishing in hot water
With temperatures soaring to near 100 degrees this weekend, fish will start feeling the heat. Give them a break by following these warm weather fishing guidelines.
Fish consumption advisories
The Oregon Health Authority has issued consumption guidelines for various waterbodies in Oregon including the Snake and Columbia Rivers due to high levels of mercury and/or PCBs. Fish with these chemicals look, act, smell and taste like any other fish, so caution is important.
- Statewide advisories
- Bonneville Dam fish advisory
- Safe fish choices for pregnancy and young children
E-tagging tips for anglers
It's important for anglers to tag their salmon and steelhead immediately, which means you'll need to know how to navigate the MyODFW app outside of cell phone range. Here are some tips for e-tagging in the field.
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.
Got a good fish story?
If you have been out fishing and have a recent fishing report you would like to share, we would love to hear it! Please send your fishing updates to: odfw.info@odfw.oregon.gov.
Updates by waterbody
ALDRICH PONDS (Roosevelt and Stewart Lakes): trout (2 fish limit)
The access road to the ponds is now open. Both ponds will be stocked towards the end of May, but these ponds can be great this time of year with plenty of holdover trout available. Last updated 4/17/24.
GRANDE RONDE RIVER: trout, whitefish
Trout and whitefish will be available to anglers throughout the Grande Ronde River, but fishing will likely slow as flows drop and the water warms. Fly-fishing with nymphs or streamers may work well as could casting spinners near likely holding areas. During the summer anglers can catch smallmouth bass in the lower Grande Ronde near Troy.
The last day of steelhead fishing was April 30 and steelhead fishing will remain closed on the Grande Ronde River until Sept. 1. Last updated 6/11/24.
HAT ROCK POND: trout
Hat Rock Pond was stocked on May 31. Anglers should find success using PowerBait, worms or spinners and focusing their efforts in the mornings or evenings. Last updated 6/5/24.
IMNAHA RIVER: trout, whitefish
Trout and whitefish can be caught in the Imnaha River throughout the summer. Like other locations, fishing near shore and in areas of slower flow will be best during periods of high flow. Steelhead fishing closed on April 30 and will reopen on Sept. 1.
Not enough spring Chinook are returning to the Imnaha River this year to allow for a salmon season to be opened. Anglers should remember they might encounter bull trout in the Imnaha River. Bull trout and Chinook salmon cannot be harvested and must be released. Last updated 6/12/24.
JOHN DAY RIVER: steelhead
This is the perfect time of year for bass fishing the John Day. Bass are abundant throughout much of the mainstem John Day, but primary areas to target are downstream of the North Fork confluence near the town of Kimberly all the way to the Columbia. Most fish will be in the 8- to 12-range, with the occasional 15- to 18-incher. Catfish can also be caught in many of the larger and deeper pools.
Flows have dropped significantly, making it especially challenging for larger crafts. Experienced rafters used to low flow conditions can still navigate the lower reaches safely, although now is the season for smaller single or two-person watercraft. Drift boats are not advised at current flows. Last updated 7/3/24.
JUBILEE LAKE: rainbow trout
Jubilee Lake was stocked the first week of July. Anglers have found success fishing in the morning and evening. While bank fishing on Jubilee is effective, but anglers who fish from a watercraft seem to do better. Last updated 7/10/24.
MAGONE LAKE: rainbow and brook trout
The rainbow trout fishing has been good this year, and Magone is a popular area to escape the summer heat and catch some trout. As the summer heat progresses, fishing will slow mid-day so focus your attention to early morning or late evening hours. Last updated on 7/3/24.
McNARY PONDS: walleye, bass and trout.
The McNary Ponds were stocked on May 31. Trout are likely to be the most active in the morning and late evening hours. Anglers should find success using PowerBait, worms or spinning lures. Last updated 6/5/24.
McKAY RESERVOIR: bass, perch, rainbow trout.
Fishing for both bass and trout on McKay Reservoir has been good. For trout, anglers have found success trolling near the mouth of McKay Creek and just outside of the submerged brush along the reservoir's western shoreline in about 10 ft of water. Last updated 6/5/24.
MORGAN LAKE: rainbow trout and bass
Morgan Lake opened for fishing on April 22. It will be stocked throughout the year and should provide some good trout fishing. Follow this link for more information about recreation at Morgan Lake. Last updated 5/1/24.
UMATILLA RIVER: fall Chinook, coho, summer steelhead, trout, bass, walleye
Trout fishing opened on May 22 on the Umatilla River and there is now a new regulation in place with a hook gap size that may not exceed 3/8 inch in the section of the Umatilla River above the CTUIR reservation. This new regulation is to protect bull trout and decrease the chance of hooking mortality.
As a reminder, if you catch a bull trout, recognized by its white spots, please keep it in the water and release it as quickly as possible. No targeting of bull trout is allowed in the Umatilla River.
Salmon fishing is closed but will reopen on Sept. 1. Last updated 7/1/24.
WALLA WALLA RIVER:
Trout fishing opens on May 22 on the Walla Walla River and there is now a new regulation in place with a hook gap size that may not exceed 3/8 inch in the Walla Walla River. This new regulation is to protect bull trout and decrease the chance of hooking mortality.
As a reminder, if you catch a bull trout, recognized by its white spots, please keep it in the water and release it as quickly as possible. No targeting of bull trout is allowed in the Walla Walla River. Last updated 5/15/24.
WALLOWA COUNTY PONDS: rainbow trout
Stocked trout are available at local ponds including Marr Pond and Kinney Lake. Kinney Lake may be one of the best local trout fishing spots as it gets a healthy stocking of fish in the fall that grow all winter. Fishing will be good at local Wallowa County ponds throughout the spring with several locations being stocked multiple times. Last updated 5/1/24.
WALLOWA LAKE: rainbow trout, kokanee, lake trout
Fishing for kokanee has started to slow although anglers are still catching some fish. Trolling continues to be the preferred method for targeting kokanee, but as the surface of the lake warms and fish move deeper, jigging may become a better way to catch kokanee.
The lake has been stocked with rainbow trout that can be caught using bait, lures, or flies. Trout anglers can do best near the south end of the lake whereas kokanee and lake trout will be more dispersed. Last updated 6/12/24.
WALLOWA RIVER: whitefish, trout
Fishing the Wallowa River for trout and whitefish can be good throughout the summer months as flows moderate. Trout and whitefish can be caught on a variety of baits, lures, and flies. Casting flies like wooly buggers and nymphs to pockets of slower moving water near shore can be good ways to catch trout and whitefish on the Wallowa River. In June, stoneflies start to emerge providing some exciting dry fly fishing.
Unfortunately, not enough spring Chinook are returning upriver to allow fishing for Chinook salmon on the Wallowa River this year. Unless a late pulse of fish start coming up the Columbia River, there will not be any salmon fishing allowed on the Wallowa River this year.
Steelhead fishing closed on April 30 and will reopen on Sept.r 1, 2024. Last updated 6/12/24.
WILLOW CREEK RESERVOIR: trout, crappie, bass
Fishing for trout on Willow Creek Reservoir is fair, with limits of legals being caught along with a trophy-size fish here and there. Last updated 5/15/24.
Regulation Updates
Regulation updates as of July 8, 2024.
The following regulations reflect changes or additions to the permanent regulations listed in the current Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations. All other permanent regulations remain in effect. Please see e-regulations.
Lower John Day River
Area definition: From the mainline railroad bridge at the mouth, upstream to a marker ¼ mile downstream of Tumwater Falls.
- June 16 - August 29: The daily steelhead bag limit is one hatchery steelhead.
McKay Creek
Reminder: McKay Creek is closed to angling for salmon and steelhead by permanent rule.
For more information contact your local ODFW office:
- Enterprise (541) 426-3279
- John Day (541) 575-1167
- La Grande (541) 963-2138
- Pendleton (541) 276-2344