ODFW offices close to public access

All  ODFW offices remain closed to visitors. ODFW staff will be available by phone and email.

ODFW hatcheries closed to public, visitors

All state-owned fish hatcheries remain 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 January 19, 2021

These are in-season regulation changes adopted on a temporary or emergency basis. Please see e-regulations for permanent regulations. 

SNAKE RIVER

  • January 1 – April 30, 2021: 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

snake river steelhead
"Its a screamer. 33 inch Steelie" -Photo by Juan Hernandez-

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.

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.

FISHING UPDATES

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 400 surplus hatchery steelhead trapped at Hells Canyon Dam were released in the reservoir in late November. 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 12/23/20.

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

Fall Chinook salmon fishing is now closed from the Washington state line upstream to Hells Canyon Dam.

Steelhead catch rates have been near average to below average as of recent reports. The bag limit for steelhead has been reduced by emergency regulations to 2 fish per day through the end of April. Anglers are also reporting good catch rates for large trout. Remember, barbless hooks and a Columbia Basin Endorsement are required when fishing for steelhead. Last updated 12/23/20.

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

No recent reports. Last updated 11/18/20.