Wild spring Chinook harvest restrictions on Umpqua

Wild spring Chinook harvest will be closed on mainstem Umpqua, bag limit reduced on North Umpqua.

Bonneville, The Dalles pools close to sturgeon

Sturgeon retention now closed in Bonneville and The Dalles pools after record opening day.

Winter steelhead restrictions on Illinois, Rogue rivers

Beginning Dec. 1, temporary wild winter steelhead harvest restrictions will be in affect on Illinois, Rogue rivers.

Razor clamming closed Cascade Head to CA border

Razor clam harvesting is now closed from Cascade Head to the California border the Oregon Department of Agriculture and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife announced today.

Recreation Report

Snake Zone

Recreation Report Regulation Updates

Table of Contents

Recreation Report

Snake River channel catfish
"A great afternoon of catfishing!" Snake River channel catfish -Photo by Mike Miles-

Jan. 15, 2025‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌

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.

Best best for weekend fishing

  • Trout fishing can be good in Hells Canyon and Oxbow Reservoirs during the cooler months.
  • Steelhead fishing has been good downstream of Hells Canyon Dam.

Announcements

No announcements at this time.

Updates by section

BROWNLEE RESERVOIR: crappie, bass, perch, catfish, bluegill, trout, carp

Not many anglers have been out recently. However, those that have gone out this winter have done well for perch and crappie. Some really nice perch are available with some over 12 inches being caught. Throughout the rest of the winter, trout also will be available in the Powder River arm and in the main reservoir. Last updated 1/8/25.

Call the Idaho Power Company's recording at 1-800-422-3143 to get information on access at recreational sites or see the following link for Reservoir level information.

OXBOW AND HELLS CANYON RESERVOIRS: trout, perch, crappie, bass, catfish, sturgeon

Trout fishing can be good in these reservoirs during the winter, and some anglers have been catching perch lately.

Surplus hatchery steelhead were released into Hells Canyon Reservoir. For anglers holding an Oregon fishing license, these fish when caught in Hells Canyon Reservoir count toward their trout limit and do not need to be recorded on a combined angling tag when harvested. See the Snake River zone fishing regulations for details. Last updated 1/8/25.

SNAKE RIVER below HELLS CANYON RESERVOIR: trout, bass, sturgeon, steelhead

Steelhead fishing had been pretty good in Hells Canyon. Anglers have caught fish throughout the Oregon section of the Snake River upstream to Hells Canyon Dam. During the winter, fishing for trout and sturgeon can also be good in Hells Canyon. Last updated 1/8/25.

SNAKE RIVER (above Brownlee Reservoir): channel catfish, flathead catfish, smallmouth bass

There are some nice largemouth bass holding up in backwaters. Recent electrofishing turned up several smallmouth in the 16- to 20-inch range right through the town of Ontario. There are some high densities of channel cat in this section of the river. When the water is turbid, catfish can be found in some fairly shallow, slow moving water. There are some big flatheads out there as well, but they are not as numerous as the channel cats. Last updated 7/3/24.