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Oregon’s beaches, bays and ocean waters have more kinds of fishing than anywhere in the state. From chasing surfperch in the… well, surf, to hooking cabezon from a rocky jetty, to going deep after rockfish and halibut, to the line-screaming runs of an albacore tuna, this zone offers a species and fishing technique for every angler. Subscribe for updates
The Snake River and its impoundments offer first class fishing for warmwater species such as channel catfish, crappie and smallmouth bass. That part of the river running through the spectacular Hells Canyon Wilderness may have some of the best summer steelhead fishing in the state.
Features: Sacramento perch are blackish above with about seven vertical dark bars that are irregular in form and position. They are not a true perch, but a sunfish. It is the only member of the sunfish family native to the west coast and, in Oregon, is found only in the Klamath Basin. Sacramento perch are distinguished from the other sunfish in Oregon by having 12 or 13 dorsal fin spines whereas all the others have 10 or fewer. Maximum size in Oregon is about 12-inches in length and a weight of about 3/4 pound, although in California they have been
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Features: Tiger trout are a hybrid between a female brown trout and a male brook trout. They are greenish yellow to brown with dark patches along their sides creating a maze-like pattern. Their belly is yellowish orange and the tail fin is square. Habitat: These sterile fish have been introduced to Diamond and Fish lakes to help combat several invasive bait fish species. Since they do not reproduce, tiger trout are catch-and-release only. Techniques: Tiger trout will go for flies, spoons, spinners and bait. Because tiger trout are piscivorous (they eat other fish), fishing a minnow imitation can be effective.
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Green Peter Reservoir by Kokanee Power Oregon
![Kokanee Fish in Net](/sites/default/files/styles/232x139/public/2022-06/kokanee%20net.jpg_0.png?itok=Z4heXgGi)
Features: When in the ocean chum salmon are bluish green on their backs. Their tails lack spots but tend to have silver streaks like the coho. Their lower jaw will be dark at the gum line and white or pink both inside and outside of the gum line. Once in freshwater, chums become dark green to brown with red to purple marks going vertically down their sides. Habitat: Like other salmon species, chum spend most of their lives at sea and return to their natal streams to spawn. Most spawning runs are over a short distance. Adults are strong swimmers
![chum_salmon_grays_river_odfw.jpg Thumbnail](/sites/default/files/styles/232x139/public/chum_salmon_grays_river_odfw.jpg?itok=Dj2_zsVe)
Features: Pumpkinseeds may be identified by the orange or red spot on the ear flap and the orange cheeks with wavy blue or turquoise stripes. Color is exceedingly brilliant and somewhat variable; olive to brassy-green above, the back finely dusted with gold or emerald. Habitat: Pumpkinseeds are found in the same habitats and often in association with bluegills. Adults often congregate beneath old deadheads and trees that have fallen into the water. Food habits are also similar to bluegill. They consume large numbers of snails by browsing on the stalks of aquatic vegetation. Techniques: Pumpkinseed are found in many of
![pumpkinseed_drainhook_flickr.jpg Thumbnail](/sites/default/files/styles/232x139/public/pumpkinseed_drainhook_flickr.jpg?itok=YdBZSPiv)
Features: These blue-green, silvery or light brown fish are a schooling fish and an important food source for larger fishes, sea birds and marine mammals. Habitat: Anchovy are frequently offshore, but can be caught inshore in harbors and large estuaries during spawning. Technique: Anchovy are usually targeted in bays with multiple-hook herring jigs.
![anchovies_kenneth_ku_flickr.jpg Thumbnail](/sites/default/files/styles/232x139/public/anchovies_kenneth_ku_flickr.jpg?itok=QEV55vSN)
Protecting and enhancing Oregon’s fish and wildlife, and the habitats they use, for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations is at the heart of what we do.
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Features: Usually greenish to brown with darker mottling, but most fish have bright red blotches on their sides. They tend to have dark bars or blotches on their fins, and the inside of their mouths are bluish. Habitat: Their habitat is subtidal algal beds and rocky reefs from the Bering Sea to southern California. Technique: Try fishing for rock greenlings from the shore as they are often captured in shallow, rocky areas. These fish have small mouths, so try a #4 or #6 hook to catch these daytime feeders.
![rock_greenling_noaa.jpg Thumbnail](/sites/default/files/styles/232x139/public/rock_greenling_noaa.jpg?itok=ylhgtyCz)
Features: Steelhead are rainbow or redband trout ( O. mykiss) that migrate to the ocean during their first or second year, returning one to three years later to spawn. While in the ocean, steelhead are silvery in color and typically grow significantly larger than their siblings who never leave fresh water. Once back in fresh water, they usually turn dark-olive in color, with silvery-white undersides, heavily speckled bodies and a pink to red stripe running along their sides. Habitat: Summer-run steelhead return to freshwater between May and October and require several months to mature and spawn. Winter-run steelhead return to
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Features: While in the sea, sea-run cutthroat feed on crustaceans and small fish and can grow up to one inch a month. By the time they return to fresh water to spawn, these fish can be up to 18-inches long and are bright silver, much like a small steelhead. Habitat: This is a sea-run strain of the coastal cutthroat that travels into the saltwater estuaries for a few months of the year. Unlike salmon and steelhead, sea-run trout don’t migrate far from their home river and return to freshwater in late summer – July and August. Technique: Sea-run cutthroat trout
Features: The lake trout is not particularly colorful – usually gray with large pale spots – and can be distinguished from other trout by its deeply-forked tail. Lake trout, despite the common name, is not actually a trout but a member of the closely related char group. They can reach weights of 20 pounds. Habitat: These aggressive, fish-eating char are popular sport fish found in deep, cold water with plenty of oxygen and proper spawning areas. There also must be abundant forage fishes for them to eat. Techniques: Many anglers target lake trout in the spring, when they hang out
![774_lake_trout_cultus_lake_boothe_odfw_1.jpg Thumbnail](/sites/default/files/styles/232x139/public/774_lake_trout_cultus_lake_boothe_odfw_1.jpg?itok=MRvun2sC)
Features: Channel catfish are pale bluish-olive above and bluish-white below with a deeply forked tail, dorsal and pectoral spines, and an adipose fin. Like all other catfish, channel catfish have “whiskers” or barbels extending from the chin and upper jaw. Young fish have a varying number of small black spots over much of the body, while older fish may be partially or entirely without spots. Maximum size in Oregon approaches 40 pounds, but most are less than 10 pounds. Habitat: Channel catfish in western Oregon are limited to the Columbia River, lower Willamette River, and a few ponds in the
![channel_catfish_ryan_somma_flickr.jpg Thumbnail](/sites/default/files/styles/232x139/public/channel_catfish_ryan_somma_flickr.jpg?itok=9ecwq7rq)
Features: Coastal rainbow trout are often residualized steelhead that spend their entire life cycle in fresh water, never migrating to sea. They are a silvery color with black spots on their backs and fins, and a pink band running down their sides. Often their gill covers are pink as well. The pelvic anal, and dorsal fins have a white edge to them. Habitat: They can be found in cold rivers, creeks, and inland lakes. However, they require streams with clean gravel, complex habitat, and cool temperatures for spawning and rearing. Techniques: Trout in stillwaters tend to be on the move
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Features: Canary rockfish are named for their bright yellow to orange mottled bodies. They also have undertones of gray and three orange stripes across their heads. They grow to be 30-inches long, and have very firm and desirable meat. Habitat: Canary rockfish are a schooling fish, common along the Pacific Northwest coast over rocky reefs and pinnacles. Larger adults are usually further offshore, with younger fish sometimes common down to 100 feet. Yelloweye, canary and vermillion rockfish can look similar. See this rockfish identification article for distinguishing features for each species. Technique: They readily take both bait and lures. Locate
![canary_rockfish_noaa.jpg Thumbnail](/sites/default/files/styles/232x139/public/canary_rockfish_noaa.jpg?itok=vtWrdMNu)
Features: They are aptly named for their color pattern and appetite. They have dark stripes running vertically down their sides, which vary in color from greenish-grey to a blush hue. They can grow in excess of 4-feet long and 30 pounds. Habitat: These fish were released in Phillips Reservoir near Baker City to help control the runaway yellow perch population that was harming the rainbow trout fishery. Technique: This is a catch-and-release fishery. Tiger muskie have a reputation for being elusive and difficult to catch. Anglers who target these fish will want a strong rod and line, a reel with
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Features: Black crappie are silvery in color with numerous black or dark green blotches and no distinct vertical bars. This results in a darker overall color than seen in white crappie. The forehead is dished, but not as much as in the white crappie. The dorsal fin usually has seven or eight spines and its length is equal to or greater than the distance between the dorsal fin and eye. Habitat: Black crappie do best in clear waters of medium-sized lakes, reservoirs and large slow moving streams. They are less tolerant of flowing and muddy water than white crappie and
![672_black_crappie_clawson_odfw.jpg Thumbnail](/sites/default/files/styles/232x139/public/672_black_crappie_clawson_odfw.jpg?itok=rWYILjMN)