Lower Columbia opens for Chinook through June 15

The Columbia River below Bonneville Dam is open through Wednesday, June 15.

Columbia above Bonneville open May 26 and 28

Salmon fishing on the Columbia River from Bonneville Dam to the OR/WA border will be open on Thursday, May 26 and Saturday, May 28.

Hood River opens to spring Chinook fishing April 15

Season remains open through June 30. One adult hatchery Chinook per day.

Recreation Report

Snake Zone

Table of Contents

Recreation Report

channel catfish, Snake River,
6lb. channel cat catfish, Snake River -Photo by Jeffrey Cronn-

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.

Baker County fishing reports

Keep your eye out for QR code signs posted at various fishing locations throughout Baker County! Anglers with smartphones can provide fishing reports and feedback on-site by scanning the QR code, which directs anglers to our ODFW Fishing Report survey. Directions on how to use the QR codes are provided right on the signs.

Best best for weekend fishing

  • Anglers have been successful fishing the Powder River arm and main branch of Brownlee Reservoir for bass and perch.
  • Anglers have been catching catfish in the upper reaches of Hells Canyon Reservoir below Oxbow Dam by trolling crawdad like lures.

Announcements

Steelhead fishing is now closed in the Snake River and will re-open on Sept. 1, 2022.

Fishing for hatchery spring Chinook is open through July 31 on the Snake River from Dug Bar Boat Ramp upstream to the fishing deadline downstream of Hells Canyon Dam.

Updates by section

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

Brownlee Reservoir is 10 ft. below full pool, and all boat ramps are currently usable. Follow the links below to get up-to-date information on access along Brownlee Reservoir.

Call the Idaho Power Company’s recording at 1-800-422-3143 to get information on access at recreational sites. | Reservoir level information

Bass fishing has been very good in Brownlee Reservoir, and fishing for perch has been good as well. Anglers have had good success with crankbaits for bass, and bait has produced good catches of perch. Crappie fishing has been sporadic, but some good fish have been caught with some fish as large as 16 inches. The water temperature of the main reservoir is about 65°F. As the temperature continues to warm, more crappie will likely be available as they move into shallow water to spawn. Some catfish have been caught recently by anglers in Brownlee Reservoir. Last updated 5/25/22.

OXBOW RESERVOIR: trout, crappie, bass, catfish

Anglers have been successful catching bass in Oxbow Reservoir, and some have been catching nicer sized bass larger than 12 inches. However, when the weather is cooler, bass fishing can be slow. Angling for trout may be good especially when water temperatures are in the low 50s. Last updated 5/25/22.

HELLS CANYON RESERVOIR: trout, crappie, bass, catfish

Bass anglers have had some success on Hells Canyon reservoir, but many of the fish have been small. Trout fishing has been slow, but there have been some good-sized trout encountered by anglers. Anglers have been catching catfish in the upper reaches of the reservoir below Oxbow Dam by trolling crawdad like lures. Fishing bait will also be an effective way of catching catfish throughout the warmer months. Last updated 5/25/22.

SNAKE RIVER below HELLS CANYON RESERVOIR: trout, bass, sturgeon, Chinook salmon

Steelhead fishing has closed on the Snake River and will re-open Sept. 1, 2022. Bass fishing can be good in the Snake River below Hells Canyon dam throughout the warmer months. For those with boat access, sturgeon fishing can be good in this section of the Snake River. Anglers are reminded that they must use barbless hooks to fish for sturgeon and sturgeon may not be retained in the Snake River. All sturgeon must be released unharmed and cannot be removed from the water.

Fishing for hatchery spring Chinook is open on the Snake River from Dug Bar Boat Ramp (upstream of the Imnaha River) to the fishing deadline near Hells Canyon Dam. The daily bag limit is 4 hatchery Chinook, only one of which may be an adult (adults are Chinook Salmon greater than 24 inches in length). Anglers must cease fishing once they have either retained one adult hatchery Chinook, or a total of four fish. Barbless hooks are required.

Fishing has been slow, and only a small number of adult Chinook are anticipated to return to Hells Canyon this year because there were not smolts available to release in Hells Canyon in 2020. However, some adults will be available and good numbers of jacks have been counted as they migrate upstream past the lower Columbia River dams. See the regulation updates page for the Snake River zone for up to date details on the season, limits, and requirements for fishing for spring Chinook in Hells Canyon this year. Last updated 5/25/22.

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

Fishing should be good for flathead and channel catfish. Both species can be found throughout the river and can be accessed from shore or by boat. Bass are currently more concentrated in backwater areas.

No recent fishing reports. Last updated 5/25/22.