Northeast Zone

March 19, 2025‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌

Best bets for weekend fishing

• Steelhead will be available in the Wallowa and Imnaha Rivers through the rest of the season.
• Steelhead are still trickling into the Umatilla River with anglers having best success between Rieth and Pendleton.

Trout stocking

Stocking is scheduled to resume in March 2025

Check out the 2025 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

Ice fishing safety

With ice covering many local waterbodies, anglers need to be cautious. Take the following precautions: use the "buddy system," wear a PFD in case of thin ice, carry a throw-rope, and use a heavy metal staff to check for thin-ice. The Minnesota DNR has developed guidelines for ice thickness and other safety tips. Remember that any hole cut in the ice for fishing can't be larger than 12 inches in diameter.

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)

Access to the ponds closed on Dec. 1 for the annual mule deer and elk winter range closure. The access road will reopen on April 15, 2025. Last updated 1/29/25.

GRANDE RONDE RIVER: trout, whitefish, steelhead

Steelhead fishing may begin to slow as the winter progresses and fish move upstream. However, anglers can still catch fish as the weather and water conditions allow. Trout and whitefish will be available to anglers throughout the winter and into spring. Last updated 2/12/25.

HAT ROCK POND: trout

Hat Rock Pond is scheduled to be stocked with rainbow trout the week of March 17. Anglers should find success using PowerBait, worms or spinners, and focusing their efforts in the mornings or evenings. Last updated 3/5/25.

IMNAHA RIVER: trout, whitefish, steelhead

Steelhead fishing may begin to slow as the winter progresses and fish move upstream. However, anglers can still catch fish as the weather and water conditions allow. Trout and whitefish will be available to anglers throughout the winter and into spring. Last updated 2/12/25.

JOHN DAY RIVER: steelhead, bass

The river was running high and turbid for several weeks but cleared up considerably by mid-January. Recent weather has been cold and ice has formed in sections of the river, with another storm on the way.

February is often a popular month to target steelhead in the John Day, and fishing should be good if you're patient and wait for river conditions to improve. This year's steelhead run will be better than the past few seasons but remains slightly below long-term averages.

The John Day is largely comprised of wild fish that must be released unharmed. Fall is often one of the better opportunities to harvest a hatchery stray. Please be cognizant of minimizing stress to wild fish by always keeping them in the water and handling them as little as possible before release. The John Day arm below Tumwater Falls to the mainline railroad bridge is now open for fishing. Last updated 1/29/25.

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, anglers who fish from a watercraft seem to do better. Last updated 7/10/24.

MAGONE LAKE: rainbow and brook trout

Access to Magone Lake during the winter is often only possible using snow machines, but ice fishing is popular and can be very productive. Last updated on 1/29/25.

McNARY PONDS: walleye, bass and trout.

The McNary ponds are scheduled to be stocked with rainbow trout the week of March 17. 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 3/5/25

McKAY RESERVOIR: bass, perch, rainbow trout.

McKay Reservoir opened on March 1. The reservoir is currently about 75 percent full.Last updated 3/3/25

MORGAN LAKE: rainbow trout and bass

Morgan Lake closed on Oct. 31 and will reopen in late April 2025. Last updated 11/20/24.

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

This season, more than 1,400 summer steelhead have migrated past Three Mile Falls dam. The cold, low-water conditions experienced in early February gave way to muddy, high-water conditions making fishing difficult in February. However, fishing should improve as water levels subside into March.

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. Last updated 3/3/25.

WALLOWA COUNTY PONDS: rainbow trout

Marr Pond, Kinney Lake, and many local forest ponds were stocked in the fall of 2024 with rainbow trout. Many different techniques will be effective, and these ponds can be great family fishing locations.

Kinney Lake is frozen over, and Marr Pond has partial ice cover. The ice at Marr Pond should not be trusted to be strong enough to walk onto. Ice was relatively thin at Kinney Lake last month but should be getting thicker with the recent cold weather. Last updated 2/5/25.

WALLOWA LAKE: rainbow trout, kokanee, lake trout

With the recent cold weather, a thin layer of ice has formed over about 90 percent of the lake including both boat ramps. Any travel onto the ice is not advisable as it's likely very unsafe. Last updated 2/12/25.

WALLOWA RIVER: whitefish, trout, steelhead

Steelhead have started moving into the Wallowa River and will be available to anglers through the winter and into spring. In addition to steelhead, rainbow trout and whitefish can be caught. Jigs fished under bobbers can be a great way to catch steelhead while trout and whitefish will readily take flies of spinners. Last updated 1/8/25.

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.