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The low water fishing closures on the Chetco, Sixes and Winchuck lifted on Nov. 17.
ODFW offices close to public access
Beginning March 23, all ODFW offices will be closed to visitors. ODFW staff will be available by phone and email.
ODFW hatcheries closed to public, visitors
Effective March 18, all state-owned fish hatcheries are closed to public access and visitors. Trout stocking in lakes and ponds continues for now.
Recreation Report
Snake Zone
Regulation Updates
Regulation updates as of March 11, 2020
These are in-season regulation changes adopted on a temporary or emergency basis. Please see e-regulations for permanent regulations.
SNAKE RIVER
- August 18 through October 31: open from the Oregon-Washington border upstream to Cliff Mountain Rapids seven (7) days per week
- For adult fall Chinook salmon, the daily bag limit is three (3) of which one (1) may be wild
- For jack fall Chinook salmon, there are no mark restrictions and no daily, possession, or season limits
- Barbless hooks are required
- August 18 through November 30: open from Cliff Mountain Rapids (RM 246.7, 1.1 miles below Hell’s Canyon Dam) upstream to the deadline below Hells Canyon Dam seven (7) days per week
- For adult fall Chinook salmon, the daily bag limit is three (3) of which one (1) may be wild
- For jack fall Chinook salmon, there are no mark restrictions and no daily, possession, or season limits
- Barbless hooks are required
- September 1 through December 31: from the Oregon-Washington border upstream to the deadline below Hells Canyon Dam
- For hatchery steelhead, the daily bag limit is two (2).
Recreation Report
If there’s not a photo, it didn’t happen
Submit your fishing photo to ODFW and we might use it here or elsewhere on MyODFW.com.
Send us your fishing report
We’d love to hear about your recent fishing experience. Send us your own fishing report through ODFW Fishing Reports―the information will be forwarded to the local biologist who may use it to update various ODFW resources such as the weekly Recreation Report.
Free Fishing Days – Nov. 27-28
#optoutside for Black Friday
The Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving are Free Fishing Days in Oregon. That means you can fish, crab or clam for free – no license, tag or endorsement required. Some restrictions apply, as in all current closures, bag limits and other regulations still apply.
2020 wildfire effects on fishing: Check before you go
ODFW can’t tell you whether to go fishing or not. We will try to steer you to information about fire closures, access issues and air quality considerations so you can make an informed decision about whether to go.
You’ll now find all wildfire information related to hunting, fishing and recreating, on both public and private land, in one central location on MyODFW.com. This page will be updated frequently, so be sure to check again before you go.
Tips to recreate responsibly
We continue to urge anglers and others recreating outside to stay close to home, keep your social distance, and travel safely. Here’s more information about how to recreate responsibly.
UPDATES BY WATERBODY
BROWNLEE RESERVOIR: crappie, bass, perch, catfish, bluegill, trout
No recent reports. Last updated 11/18/20.
Call the Idaho Power Company’s recording at 1-800-422-3143 to get information on access at recreational sites. | Reservoir level information
OXBOW RESERVOIR: trout, crappie, bass, catfish
No recent reports. Last updated 07/29/20.
HELLS CANYON RESERVOIR: trout, crappie, bass, catfish
As many as 250 surplus hatchery steelhead trapped at Hells Canyon Dam will be released in the reservoir this week, with potential for another 150 next week. These fish are released directly from Oxbow Hatchery and can provide a productive fishery. Once these fish are released above Hells Canyon Dam, they are treated as hatchery trout over 20 inches and the bag limit is 3 per day. These fish do not need to be recorded on your harvest card. Last updated 11/18/20.
SNAKE RIVER below HELLS CANYON RESERVOIR: trout, salmon, bass
Fall Chinook salmon fishing is now closed from the Washington state line upstream to Cliff Mountain Rapid. Fall Chinook fishing remains open from Cliff Mountain upstream to the deadline below Hells Canyon Dam through Nov. 30. The daily bag limit is three adult Chinook per day of which only one may be wild. Anglers must cease fishing once they have retained three adult Chinook salmon. Barbless hooks and a Columbia Basin Endorsement are required.
Steelhead season opened on Sept. 1, and fish are available to anglers. Recent reports indicate average to slightly below average catch rates. The bag limit for steelhead has been reduced by emergency regulations to 2 fish per day. Last updated 11/18/20.
SNAKE RIVER (above Brownlee Reservoir): channel catfish, flathead catfish, smallmouth bass
SNAKE RIVER (above Brownlee Reservoir): channel catfish, flathead catfish, smallmouth bass
No recent reports. Last updated 11/18/20.