Northeast Zone

NE Fishing

April 23, 2026

Best bets for weekend fishing:

• Kokanee fishing has been good on Wallowa Lake.
• Perch fishing has been good at Phillips Reservoir with some large fish caught.
• Steelhead fishing is good on the Umatilla River.
• Trout can still be found on Willow Creek Reservoir.

Trout stocking

Stocked the weeks of April 6-13:

Weston Highway Pond, Brandon's Pond, Trout Farm Pond, Morgan Lake (opens April 22), Kinney Lake.

Scheduled to be stocked the weeks of April 20-May 8:

Wallowa Wildlife Pond (Weaver's Pond), Roulet Pond, McNary Channel Ponds, Marr Pond, Ladd/Peach Pond, Morrow Co OHV Park Pond #1, 2, 3, and 4, Hat Rock Pond, Bull Prairie Res, Penland Lake, Anson Wright Pond, Cutsforth Pond, Rowe Creek Res.

Scheduled to be stocked in the week of Apr. 20-24: Wallowa Wildlife Pond (Weavers Pond), Weston Hwy Pond, Roulet Pond, Ladd (Peach) Pond, Morgan Lake, McNary Channel Ponds, Marr Pond. 

Check out the 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

If your favorite fishing spot is no longer listed

It's probably because that river, lake or reservoir is closed for the season, inaccessible due to snow and bad roads, or offers limited fishing opportunities during the winter months. These waterbodies will re-appear in the Recreation Report when they re-open next spring, or when access and/or opportunity improves.

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)

The Phillip Schneider Wildlife Area is closed during the annual winter range closure and will re-open April 15, 2026. Last updated 4/1/26

GRANDE RONDE RIVER: Trout, whitefish, steelhead

Fishing for trout may be good when flows are not elevated. Anglers will do best by targeting areas near shore and sections of slower water. As the month progresses, more insects will emerge with the potential to catch fish on dry flies. Steelhead fishing is open through the end of April. However, most all steelhead have completed migrating to spawning areas and few are likely to be available to anglers. Last updated 4/6/26.

Links to the following river gauges:

Grande Ronde River Below Clear Creek, Near Starkey

Grande Ronde River, Near Perry

Grande Ronde River at Troy

HAT ROCK POND: Trout

Anglers should find success using PowerBait, worms or spinners, and focus their efforts in the mornings or evenings. Last updated 4/13/26.

IMNAHA RIVER: Trout, whitefish, steelhead

Flows will be higher throughout the spring months as mountain snowpack melts and spring rainstorms pass through. Trout and whitefish will be available throughout the river. When flows are up, anglers will do best by concentrating in slower water, especially near shore. Steelhead fishing is open through the end of April. However, most hatchery steelhead have moved through the river, and few fish are likely to be present for anglers. Last updated 4/6/26.

JOHN DAY RIVER: Bass, trout

Steelhead fishing has been good lately but flows and water visibility have been highly variable. Anglers are catching steelhead higher in the system by timing fishing trips when river conditions are favorable. Fly fishing is much more challenging this time of year due to higher flows compared to fall, but spinners, spoons, crankbaits, and bobber jig fishing have been producing.

JUBILEE LAKE: Rainbow trout

Road access is closed for the season but anglers who walk in can find success. Expect some ice to be on the lake this time of year. Last updated 4/13/26.

MAGONE LAKE: Rainbow and brook trout

Fishing is often good year-round.

McNARY PONDS: Walleye, bass and trout.

Trout will likely be most active in the morning and late evening hours. Bass fishing can also be good during the summer months. Last updated 4/13/26

McKAY RESERVOIR: Bass, perch, rainbow trout

McKay Reservoir opened on March 1 and the fish are biting! The reservoir is currently 52% full. Last updated 4/13/26

MORGAN LAKE: Rainbow trout and bass

Morgan Lake is closed for the season and will reopen April 22, 2026. Last updated 3/4/26

UMATILLA RIVER: Fall Chinook, coho, summer steelhead, trout, bass, walleye

. Fishing for Spring Chinook opens this week and steelhead fishing closes at the end of the month. Expect fishing for Spring Chinook to pick up in May.

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. Targeting bull trout is NOT allowed in the Umatilla River. Last updated 4/13/2026

WALLOWA COUNTY PONDS: Rainbow trout

Kinney Lake was just stocked for 2026. Additionally other ponds including Victor, Weaver, and Marr Pond will be stocked throughout April. Last updated 4/6/26.

WALLOWA LAKE: Rainbow trout, kokanee

Lake trout and Kokanee fishing have been very good lately. Anglers are catching some large fish up to 5 lbs. Both jigging and trolling have been effective means of catching kokanee. Anglers can target rainbow trout near the head of the lake by the Wallowa River. Casting and retrieving nymphs or spinners can be effective. Some anglers have been catching lake trout by jigging large soft plastic baits. However, lake trout can be very finicky. Last updated 4/1/26.

WALLOWA RIVER: Whitefish, trout, steelhead

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 fish on the Wallowa River.

Steelhead have largely completed migrating through the Wallowa River. Although steelhead fishing is open through the end of April, there are few fish available. Last updated 4/6/26.

WILLOW CREEK RESERVOIR: Trout, crappie, bass

Anglers have been catching trout from the shore near the boat launch. As a reminder, there is a 25 fish limit for crappie on Willow Creek Reservoir.

Last spring, district staff installed 10 artificial habitat structures. These structures were put in place to provide fish habitat when the reservoir is drawn down. Additionally, on June 3, district staff sampled Willow Creek Reservoir. Our catch was composed of primarily brown bullhead, bluegill, crappie, and smallmouth bass. The bluegill that we collected had an average length of 6 inches and a max length of 9 inches. The crappie that we collected had an average length of 7.5 inches and a max length of 10 inches. The smallmouth bass that we collected had an average length of 9 inches and a max length of 15.5 inches. Last updated 4/13/26