South Coast reopens to crabbing

The entire Oregon coast is now open to recreational crabbing.

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.

Parts of Eagle Creek closed to fishing

The lowest reach of Eagle Creek on Clackamas River closed to angling Sept. 27 through Oct. 31

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-

Dec. 11, 2024‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌

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

Recreation Report holiday break

Due to the upcoming holidays, we'll be taking a break from the Recreation Report the weeks of Dec. 23 and 30. The Rec Report will resume publication the week of Jan. 6, 2025.

Updates by section

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

Crappie fishing has been good for boat anglers trolling or jigging. The schools are 20 – 25 ft deep right now. While trolling for kokanee, anglers also have been catching some good-size bass and catfish. Bank fishing has been slower.

Work is being completed near the Hewitt Park boat ramp which is inaccessible at times. Holcomb Boat Ramp is still open and usable although anglers should be sure to check reservoir levels before planning to launch a boat.

Brownlee Reservoir levels can fluctuate greatly affecting which boat ramps are usable. Follow the links below to get up-to-date information on access along Brownlee Reservoir. Hewitt Park in Baker County will be closed for construction until November. Last updated 9/25/24.

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, crappie, bass, catfish, sturgeon

As the water cools, trout fishing will improve in these reservoirs. Trolling is a popular technique for catching fish in Hells Canyon Reservoir. Fishing for warmwater species will probably be slow throughout the winter months.

Surplus hatchery steelhead will be 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 11/20/24.

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 11/20/24.

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.