To give hunters more time to report their hunts in the new electronic licensing system, the deadline to report 2018 hunts has been extended to April 15, 2019.
The 1 steelhead bag limit on several NE creeks and rivers, set to expire on Dec. 31, has been extended through April 30, 2019.
Northeast Zone
Regulation Updates as of January 30, 2019
These are in-season regulation changes adopted on a temporary or emergency basis. Please see e-regulations for permanent regulations.
Effective November 1 through April 30, 2019, the daily bag limit is one hatchery steelhead in the following Creeks and Rivers of the NE Zone:
- The Grande Ronde River upstream to Meadow Creek.
- The Imnaha River downstream of Big Sheep Creek.
- The Wallowa River from the mouth upstream to Trout Creek.
- Big Sheep Creek downstream of Little Sheep Creek.
- The Wenaha River downstream of Crooked Creek.
- Catherine Creek from the mouth to the Hwy 203 bridge above Catherine Creek State Park
UMATILLA RIVER
- Effective October 15 through April 30, 2019 from the Hwy 730 bridge to the CTUIR reservation boundary (approximately 0.7 miles above Hwy 11 bridge) closed to angling for steelhead.
- Open for one adult fall Chinook or coho salmon per day and five jack salmon per day. In addition, 5 mini jack (8-15 inches) coho or fall Chinook salmon per day.
WALLA WALLA RIVER
- Effective December 1 through April 30, 2019 from state line to confluence of the North and South forks, closed to angling for steelhead.
For more information contact your local ODFW office:
- Enterprise (541) 426-3279
- La Grande (541) 963-2138
- Pendleton (541) 276-2344
- John Day (541) 575-1167
Weekend fishing opportunities:
- Some steelhead are being caught in the Wallowa River, and there are steelhead throughout the John Day River.
- Winter and early spring are best months to target trout on Willow Creek Reservoir.
2019 STOCKING SCHEDULE AND STOCKING MAP
2019 trout stocking schedule
Get a jump on planning your 2019 trout fishing adventures. The 2019 weekly trout stocking schedule is now posted on MyODFW.com.
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
Access to the ponds is closed. Phillip Schneider Wildlife Area is under a winter closure from Feb. 1 – April 14. The closure is to protect big game wintering on the wildlife area.
BULL PRAIRIE RESERVOIR: rainbow trout
The reservoir is froze over but ice conditions are unknown. The access road is not maintained and will be snow covered. A 2-mile hike in snow may be required to access the lake from Hwy 207. Fishing is likely good for stocked trout.
GRANDE RONDE RIVER: trout, whitefish, steelhead
The daily bag limit of one hatchery steelhead will continue through the end of the season on April 30, 2019. Bag limits were reduced to protect limited numbers of wild fish returning to the Snake River Basin and to ensure hatchery programs meet production goals.
Steelhead fishing has been difficult this year due to the low numbers of returning fish and low flows. Pressure tends to drop off heading into winter and persistent anglers that are willing to fight the cold can have a few fish to themselves. The few anglers that have recently been on the river are finding some success and respectable catch rates.
HOLLIDAY PARK POND: rainbow trout
No recent report. An ADA fishing dock is available.
HUNTER POND: rainbow trout
The pond was stocked the last week of September with several one-pound rainbow trout. These fish should provide some good fall fishing. With winter approaching access will become difficult due to snow and the pond will become ice-covered.
From I-84 take Hwy 244 towards Ukiah. At the Blue Mtns 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, steelhead
Some reports of steelhead being caught but overall fishing has been slow.
The daily bag limit of one hatchery steelhead will continue through the end of the season on April 30, 2019. Bag limits were reduced to protect limited numbers of wild fish returning to the Snake River Basin and to ensure hatchery programs meet production goals.
JOHN DAY RIVER: steelhead
Summer steelhead are present throughout the John Day River but we expect below average of steelhead returning to the basin this season.
River flows recently rose and have likely drawn steelhead into and further up the river. Steelhead tend to move into the lower river with each flow pulse. Boating access is possible, although flows remain low at times and sections will be challenging to navigate. No recent angler reports submitted for January.
Most steelhead will be wild and must be released. To help reduce stress on wild steelhead anglers are encouraged to play and land fish as quickly as possible, use barbless hooks, and do not remove fish from the water. Anglers are encouraged to keep up to three hatchery steelhead per day.
Bull trout are also present in the river but in low numbers. If caught they must be released unharmed.
LONG CREEK POND, CAVENDER POND: rainbow trout, largemouth bass
Both ponds have been stocked with trout. The ponds are froze over but ice conditions are unknown.
Check the stocking schedule for Long Creek & for Cavender.
LUGER POND: rainbow trout
The pond was stocked the last week of September with some one-pound rainbow trout. These fish should provide some good fall fishing. With winter approaching access will become difficult due to snow and the pond will become ice-covered.
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 is frozen over and the access road is snow covered. Reservoir ice conditions are unknown. Fishing is likely good for stocked trout that can be found almost anywhere in the lake. These fish range from 8- to 16-inches long.
MORGAN LAKE: rainbow trout
The lake closed to fishing Nov. 1.
PEACH (LADD) POND: rainbow trout
The pond was last stocked with rainbow trout the week of Oct. 8. The pond is ice-covered.
Construction of a new ADA accessible fishing platform is now complete.
ROULET POND: rainbow trout
The pond was last stocked the week of Oct. 8 with one-pound rainbow trout. The pond is ice-covered.
Construction of a new ADA accessible fishing platform is complete. Anglers with disabilities will enjoy the improved access this spring when the ice thaws.
ROWE CREEK RESERVOIR: rainbow trout
The reservoir has been stocked with rainbow trout. No recent fishing report.
TAYLOR GREEN POND: rainbow trout
The pond was stocked the last week of September with some one-pound rainbow trout. These fish should provide some good fall fishing. With winter approaching access will become difficult due to snow and the pond will become ice-covered.
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 Snowpark 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.
UMATILLA RIVER:
Steelhead fishing has been closed for the season (Oct. 15 to April 30, 2019) with returns estimated at near historic low levels.
Anglers can access fish counts at Three Mile Dam fish counts. Find flow data.
WALLOWA COUNTY PONDS: rainbow trout
Ice fishers have found success at Kinney Lake catching rainbows to 16-inches. Fishing should remain good until ice out in the spring. Access can sometimes be difficult when snow drifts over the road.
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
Winter can be difficult on Wallowa Lake. If the lake freezes, ice fishing can be good for kokanee and trout. Look for good fishing for holdover trout as spring approaches.
WALLOWA RIVER: steelhead, mountain whitefish, trout
The daily bag limit of one hatchery steelhead will continue through the end of the season on April 30, 2019.The Wallowa River is open for steelhead and we’ve received a few reports of anglers catching fish. Despite there being a few fish around, success rates will likely be low until fish have a little more time to move through the system. Due to an effort to adjust the run timing of hatchery steelhead, more fish have been available in the fall in recent years.
Trout and whitefish fishing can remain good through the winter. Fishing places away from the typical steelhead holes can result in some nice fish with good catch rates. During the cold months, fishing sub surface with smaller flies is most productive.
WILLOW CREEK RESERVOIR: trout
Winter and early spring are best months to target trout; fish with night crawlers or PowerBait on the bottom. Water levels are still low, but will continue to raise throughout the winter. The reservoir is stocked with fingerlings annually, which should now be in the 10- to 12-inch range.
Please report a caught tagged fish to the ODFW Pendleton office 541-276-2344.