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:

• Steelhead have moved into several area rivers including the Grande Ronde, Imnaha, John Day and Wallowa rivers. Anglers should keep an eye on water levels and be ready to hit the water when water drops and clears

2020 STOCKING SCHEDULE AND STOCKING MAP

Ice fishing safety

With several water bodies beginning to ice over, anglers need to be cautious during first-ice conditions. 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.

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

The access road to the parking area will be closed Dec. 1 and reopens April 15.  Full closure of the Wildlife Area is from Feb. 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. Access to the lake may be hampered by snow and ice.

GRANDE RONDE RIVER: trout, whitefish, bass, steelhead

The Grande Ronde is blown out as of Feb. 10. For fishable conditions, watch for flows to drop below 3,000 cfs at the Troy river gauge.

Fishing for steelhead in January and February can be quite good if flows cooperate. During this time, pressure is typically low and anglers will find a lot of water to fish. The daily steelhead bag limit is one hatchery steelhead through April 30, 2020.

Poor returns of steelhead are forecasted for the Snake River Basin prompting managers to reduce bag limits to ensure hatchery production can be met.

HOLLIDAY PARK POND: rainbow trout

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

HUNTER POND: rainbow trout

Winter conditions will prevent vehicle access to this pond until spring.

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

The Imnaha River flows recently jumped but are currently falling. Steelhead will be moving into the Imnaha River from the Snake River as late winter progresses and conditions improve. Look for steelhead fishing to improve through April as long as flows cooperate.

Steelhead season is open with a reduced daily bag limit of one hatchery steelhead through April 30, 2020. Poor returns of steelhead are forecasted for the Snake River Basin prompting managers to reduce bag limits to ensure hatchery production can be met.

Anglers should expect success rates to improve toward the end of February when steelhead make their push toward the hatchery facility.

JOHN DAY RIVER: steelhead

Steelhead have entered the John Day River but forecast numbers are low again this year. Anglers reported reasonable success in October and November. We have received a few reports of angler success as high as Kimberly, and steelhead are showing up in the North Fork between Monument and Kimberly.

Recent reports indicate fishing has been slow in the Service Creek and Kimberly areas, but steelhead are moving up river with each flow pulse.

Recent wet and rainy weather will slow the fishing due to high water and poor visibility. Be sure to check the USGS river gages to time trips accordingly..

Steelhead fishing below Tumwater Falls is open with a daily bag limit of one hatchery steelhead through April 30, 2020. Above Tumwater Falls the daily bag limit is three hatchery steelhead and anglers are encouraged to keep hatchery steelhead and use safe fish handling ethics to release wild steelhead.

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

No recent reports, but fish should hold well at both Long Creek and Cavender after summer trout stockings.   

LUGER POND: rainbow trout

Winter conditions will prevent vehicle access to this pond until spring.

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

Ice conditions are good for ice fishing and we’ve received a recent report of good fishing. Conditions may change at any time with weather, so follow all precautions and carry chains.

Currently access is possible via Hwy 395/Beech Creek. As of Jan. 13, 2020, recent snow and winter weather may have closed the access road to trucks and off-road vehicles, making snowmobiles the only way to access the lake.

McNARY PONDS: walleye

The ponds have a surprisingly good population of walleye, highest numbers are in the Social Security Pond, which also provides good bank access. Look for the deepest areas and use worms fished near the bottom and plastic grubs. The ponds are also open to non-motorized boats.

MORGAN LAKE: rainbow trout

The lake is closed to fishing until April 22, 2020.

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.

ROULET POND: rainbow trout

This pond received a fall stocking of rainbow trout mid-October. A new fishing pier was constructed last fall. Ice is beginning to form on the 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 was stocked this summer, but no reports have been received since the recent cold weather.

TAYLOR GREEN POND: rainbow trout

Winter conditions will prevent vehicle access to this pond until spring.

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, but fishing and access may be hampered due to snow and ice.

UMATILLA RIVER: steelhead

Steelhead return numbers are still low but are on the increase. Since the first of February, 95 steelhead have returned to Three Mile Dam, putting the total return to date at 719 steelhead.

Umatilla River flows have increased for the first time this winter with flows over 1,000 cfs. Anglers should concentrate their efforts on the lower river, upstream and downstream of Threemile Dam, but fish should now be spreading throughout the system.

Anglers are reminded of the reduced steelhead bag limit of one hatchery steelhead.

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

WALLOWA COUNTY PONDS: rainbow trout

Ice fishing at Kinney Lake is good for stocked and holdover trout up to 16 inches. Be cautious when venturing out on the ice at Kinney Lake. Various cycles of freezing and thawing could make the ice dangerous during warmer conditions.

Check the 2020 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

The river peaked late last week with warm weather and rain. As the river drops and clears, steelhead fishing should improve as fish make their final pushes toward the hatchery facilities. As long as flows cooperate, steelhead will be available to anglers through April.

Steelhead season is open with a reduced daily bag limit of one hatchery steelhead through April 30, 2020. 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.

Expect steelhead fishing to improve as winter progresses and fish continue to move from the Grande Ronde River into the Wallowa River.

WILLOW CREEK RESERVOIR: trout

As water temperatures cool, trout get more active and move back into the shallows to feed. Anglers do well with worms and PowerBait fished on the bottom from shore.