Recreation Report
Northeast Zone
Recreation Report
Sept. 4, 2024
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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.
- There's been some good trout fishing in the south fork of the Walla Walla River.
- Fishing the Wallowa River for trout and whitefish can be good throughout the summer.
- Bass fishing on the John Day remains a good bet for late summer fishing.
- Magone Lake is a popular retreat to escape the summer heat and catch some trout.
- Fishing for brook and rainbow trout has been good in the high lakes of the Wallowa Mountains.
Trout stocking
Scheduled to be stocked this week:
No stocking scheduled this week. Stocking will resume in September.
Recently stocked:
Wallowa Lake
Trout stocking maps
Check out the ODFW fishing and trout stocking maps to find nearby fishing locations, driving directions and descriptions of amenities.
Announcements
Anglers: What to know about wildfires
Wildfire season is hitting Oregon hard. Be sure to "know before you go" by checking for closures or fire restrictions before heading out. You can check for the latest fire updates and closures using the links on this webpage. A&H properties in NE Oregon remain closed indefinitely due to significant fire danger.
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.
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.
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 returned to the Imnaha River this year to allow for a salmon season. 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 7/17/24.
JOHN DAY RIVER: steelhead
Bass fishing remains a good bet for late summer fishing, although this is generally a slower time of year. With the onset of low flows and high temps, we've entered the post-spawn period which generally means catch rates drop, but fishing remains an option.
Flows have dropped significantly, making it especially challenging for larger crafts. This is the time of year for smaller single or two-person watercraft, and it would be advised to avoid attempting a float with larger crafts such as drift boats or rafts at current flows. Bank fishing will be the best bet, although be sure to check current closures due to several active wildfires in the area. Last updated 8/7/24.
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, 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 is now back open after the Oregon Department of Forestry downgraded the fire danger from extreme to high. Morgan Lake was sampled on Aug. 16 and there are many nice rainbow trout in the lake. Sampling also found multiple large bullhead catfish, small largemouth bass and smaller crappie. Last updated 8/28/24.
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:
The Walla Walla River is open for trout, and there is good fishing to be had on the south fork. Anglers can find success using a variety of techniques, including fly-fishing with dry flies. Many trout can be found holding in the soft water behind boulders within rapids.
As a reminder, 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.
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 7/31/24.
WALLOWA COUNTY PONDS: rainbow trout
Stocked trout are available at some local ponds. Fishing may begin to slow at local ponds as the weather warms. Marr Pond will hold water all summer, but the aquatic vegetation can get thick in some parts of the pond. Kinney Lake is an irrigation reservoir and has largely drained with the progressing growing season. It will be restocked later in the fall. Last updated 8/21/24.
WALLOWA LAKE: rainbow trout, kokanee, lake trout
Anglers continue to catch kokanee although they are deep in some instances. Trolling is a popular means of catching kokanee. Also, anglers using fish finders can locate schools of kokanee then jig over those fish. Some nicer fish have been caught, and they are still generally bright although a few fish are starting to mature and darken up in preparation for fall spawning.
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 7/17/24.
WALLOWA MOUNTAINS HIGH LAKES: brook trout, rainbow trout
Throughout the rest of the summer and into the fall, brook trout and rainbow trout can be caught in many alpine waterbodies. These fish are often aggressive feeders and can be readily caught on flies and lures. They also can make a tasty camp dinner for backpackers. Last updated 8/21/24.
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. Drifting small nymph patterns or dry flies can result in good catches. Spinners can be an excellent way to catch rainbow trout but won't attract many whitefish.
Unfortunately, not enough spring Chinook returned to allow fishing for Chinook salmon on the Wallowa River this year. Steelhead fishing closed on April 30 and will reopen on Sept. 1, 2024. Last updated 7/17/24.
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.