Northeast Zone

Attention anglers – we want your photos!

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:

• Umatilla River Coho made a strong push this past week with over 750 adults returning to Three Mile Dam.
• Steelhead are starting to move into the John Day River.

2019 STOCKING SCHEDULE AND STOCKING MAP

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

The ponds have been stocked with both trophy and legal-size trout.  Access to the ponds requires a two-mile hike from the Flat Creek parking area on the Phillip Schneider Wildlife Area.  The access road to the parking area will be closed December 1 and reopens April 15.  Full closure of the Wildlife Area is from February 1 through April 14.    

BULL PRAIRIE RESERVOIR: rainbow trout

The reservoir has been stocked with both trophy and legal-size trout. Fishing is likely good for stocked trout.  A float tube or small boat is suggested to avoid shoreline aquatic weeds.  GRANDE RONDE RIVER: trout, whitefish, bass, steelhead

With cooler weather trout fishing has picked up on the Grande Ronde River. Biologists have received recent reports of success with large stonefly patterns.

Steelhead fishing on the Grande Ronde is slow by most standards, but there are fish being caught and conditions are notably better than last year. The daily steelhead bag limit is one hatchery steelhead through at least Dec. 31.

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.

Remember that fall Chinook, bull trout, and coho will be present in the Grande Ronde throughout the fall.  If you encounter these species, they must be released immediately and unharmed.

HOLLIDAY PARK POND: rainbow trout

The pond was stocked three times this summer and fish should holdover well this fall.

HUNTER POND: rainbow trout

This pond received a fall stocking of rainbow trout late September.

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

Steelhead season opened on Sept. 1 with a reduced daily bag limit of one hatchery steelhead through at least Dec. 31. 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.

Remember that fall Chinook and bull trout will be present in the Imnaha River throughout the fall. If you encounter these species, they must be released immediately and unharmed.

JOHN DAY RIVER: steelhead

Steelhead are starting to enter the John Day River system. Steelhead numbers are down again this year and predicted to be similar to last year. Anglers should focus their attention to the lower section of river as fish are just starting to move up the John Day.

Steelhead fishing below Tumwater Falls is now open for retention of one hatchery steelhead through December 31, 2019. Anglers are encouraged to keep up to 3 hatchery steelhead above Tumwater Falls and to use safe fish handling ethics to release wild steelhead.

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

Fishing is good at both Long Creek and Cavender after summer trout stockings.

LUGER POND: rainbow trout

This pond received a fall stocking of rainbow trout the last week of September.

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

The reservoir has been stocked with trophy and legal-size tout. Fishing is good almost anywhere in the lake.

McNARY PONDS: largemouth and smallmouth bass, walleye, crappie and bluegill

The ponds have a good population of warmwater species and provide good bank access; the ponds are also open to non-motorized boats.

MORGAN LAKE: rainbow trout

The lake closes to fishing on Nov. 1. The fish should be biting well with the cool fall temperatures. Get out and enjoy some good fishing with smaller crowds.

PEACH (LADD) POND: rainbow trout

This pond received a fall stocking of rainbow trout mid-October.

To measure the catch rate of trout stocked in the Peach Pond, ODFW marked some of these with an orange colored tag just under the dorsal fin. If you catch one of these tagged fish, please report the tag number to Tim Bailey, District Fish Biologist at 541-962-1829. Some of these tags will have a $50 reward available.

Construction of a new ADA accessible fishing platform is now complete.

PENDLAND LAKE: rainbow trout

Pendland Lake is a great location for fall trout fishing, the crowds are gone and the trout go on the bite. A small boat or float tube will let you reach more of the lake. Flies, lures and bait all work.

ROULET POND: rainbow trout

This pond received a fall stocking of rainbow trout mid-October. A new fishing pier was constructed last fall. Anglers with disabilities will enjoy excellent fishing access at this pond.

To measure the catch rate of trout stocked in the Roulette Pond, ODFW marked some of these with an orange colored tag just under the dorsal fin. If you catch one of these tagged fish, please report the tag number to Tim Bailey, District Fish Biologist at 541-962-1829. Some of these tags will have a $50 reward available.

ROWE CREEK RESERVOIR: rainbow trout

The reservoir has been stocked and fishing should be good.

TAYLOR GREEN POND: rainbow trout

This pond received a fall stocking of rainbow trout the last week of September. Make use of a great fishing opportunity before the snow flies. Views from this pond are spectacular.

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 have been stocked twice and fishing should be good.

UMATILLA FOREST PONDS: trout

The North and South Umatilla ponds have all been stocked, this includes ponds located off: the USFS 52 Rd, 53 Rd and Pearson Creek Rd. Hunters remember to take a fish rod along, as the temperatures drop the trout go on the bite again.

UMATILLA RIVER: salmon, steelhead

Coho and fall Chinook are starting to arrive in the Umatilla in good numbers. Fish the lower river from Hwy 730 to Threemile Dam for best results.

Anglers are reminded of the reduced bag limit starting Oct. 1, the daily bag limit is one adult fall Chinook salmon, or one adult coho salmon or one hatchery steelhead, and 5 jack salmon.

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

SOUTH WALLA WALLA FOREST PONDS: trout

The ponds were last stocked the week of June 17. Hunters remember to take a fish rod along, as the temperatures drop the trout go on the bite again.

WALLOWA COUNTY PONDS: rainbow trout

Wallowa County ponds on the forest and in the valley have been stocked this year and fishing should be good.

Kinney Lake is fishing well for stocked and holdover trout up to 16-inches.

Check the 2019 stocking schedules for these Wallowa County ponds: 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

The crowds have left Wallowa Lake, but trout and kokanee are still available to the determined angler. 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

Trout fishing on the Wallowa River is currently good with fish to 20-inches being reported.  Dry flies during the last few hours of daylight have been effective.

Steelhead season opened on Sept.1 with a reduced daily bag limit of one hatchery steelhead through at least Dec. 31. 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. 

While steelhead season is open, it will be later in the fall when fish appear in catchable numbers.

Remember that bull trout and coho will be present in the Wallowa River throughout the fall. If you encounter these species, they must be released immediately and unharmed.

WILLOW CREEK RESERVOIR: crappie, bass

As water temperatures cool, crappie and bass remain active, but look for fish in deeper water. Trout will be moving towards the surface again as temperatures cool.