About Oregon Sport fishing
Fishing in Oregon is some of the best in the Pacific Northwest. We don’t say this lightly! The ‘Beaver State’ has over 350 miles of coastline, and countless rivers, streams and lakes, including the mighty Columbia and a fly-fisher’s dream, the Deschute. Along with rainforests along the coasts and in the interior, the Cascade Mountain Range along the eastern border, Oregon also has deserts! Deserts where you can fish! With cool summers and mild winters, Oregon offers a respite from other parts of North America where weather is more extreme – some lakes don’t even freeze over in the winter!
Watch to Catch
Oregon offers year-round fishing, ranging from native redband trout in the eastern deserts to rockfish and halibut in the ocean, with salmon, steelhead, trout, and general warm water fishing in between. Oregon’s rivers are renowned for their salmon and steelhead runs, while fly fishing is very popular in rivers like the Deschutes and lakes like Crane Prairie. With all this coastline, saltwater fishing is also easily accessible, with species like halibut, lingcod, rockfish, along with salmon and albacore tuna. Ambitious anglers can even catch Dungeness crab!
Freshwater Fishing
Steelhead: Oregon’s rivers are renowned for their salmon and steelhead runs. Steelhead are the anadromous (migratory) form of rainbow trout and are typically more streamlined and silvery than rainbow trout, with a pronounced hooked jaw in males during the spawning cycle. They are renowned for their strength and acrobatic fights on the line. Steelheads can spawn multiple times throughout their lives, migrating between freshwater and the ocean, and can spend one to four years in the ocean before returning to freshwater to spawn. Unlike salmon, not all steelheads die after spawning; they can return to the ocean and make multiple spawning runs.
Fishing techniques for Steelhead include trolling in larger rivers like the Columbia to drift fishing in smaller streams, as well as fly fishing and using spinners and spoons. Steelhead are often targeted in rivers during spawning runs.
Salmon (Chinook, Coho, Sockeye, Chum, Kokanee, Pink): Each salmon species is distinct enough in behavior and characteristics to warrant a separate listing:
- Chinook: Also known as king salmon, Chinooks are the largest of the Pacific salmon species and have a distinctive black gum line and large, oblong black spots on their backs and tails. Chinooks spawn in large rivers and streams and often travel great distances from the ocean to their natal freshwater habitats. Fishing techniques include spinners, spoons, or bait like shrimp and anchovies. Trolling and drift fishing are also popular.
- Coho: Also known as silver salmon, Cohos are known for their bright silver sides and dark blue backs while they reside in the ocean, then turn red on their sides and dark green on their backs when they return to freshwater to spawn. Coho salmon spawn in smaller streams and rivers, often in areas with gravel beds. Effective techniques include spinners, spoons, and flies. Drift fishing and casting from the shore are popular.
- Sockeye: Also known as red salmon, Sockeye are noted for their bright red bodies and green heads during spawning and are generally smaller than Chinook and Coho salmon. They can be 24 to 33 inches long and weigh between 5 and 15 pounds. Sockeyes often spawn in lakes and their tributaries and are unique among salmon for their reliance on lake habitats for part of their life cycle. Fishing techniques include fly fishing or using small spinners and spoons or bait. Sockeyes are often targeted in lakes and streams during their spawning runs.
- Chum: Also known as dog salmon, Chums have a distinctive calico pattern of vertical bars in shades of green and purple during spawning. They tend to spawn in lower river reaches and estuaries, often in areas with slower-moving water. Fishing techniques include drift fishing, spoon fishing, and bobber/jig fishing.
- Kokanee: Kokanee are landlocked sockeye salmon, typically smaller than their ocean-going counterparts. Unlike their ocean-going cousins, Kokanees do not migrate to the ocean and live their entire lives in freshwater lakes and reservoirs. Kokanee can be found at all depths of cold, clear lakes and reservoirs and will change depth depending on water temperature. They can be challenging to catch as they usually eat zooplankton, but they will take flies and lures. They are known to be delicious.
- Pink: Silver when young, but darken and develop black spots on their tails and backs as they get older. Pinks average 20 to 25 inches long and rarely weigh over 5 pounds. Pinks spawn on odd-numbered years and do so close to saltwater; some pinks will spawn in inter-tidal zones. They require gravel to spawn. Pink salmon can be caught using small spinners, spoons, and fly tackle. They are usually caught while fishing for other salmon.
Trout (Rainbow, Cutthroat, Brook, and Brown Trout): Trout are known for their spots and vibrant colors and thrive in cool, clean waters. Fly fishing is a popular technique, especially in rivers and streams. In lakes, trolling with lures and bait fishing with worms or PowerBait are all popular.
Bass (Largemouth, Smallmouth): Bass are aggressive predators, making them thrilling and challenging to catch. Smallmouth bass prefer rocky habitats, while largemouth bass are found in weedy or woody areas. Techniques include casting with plastic worms, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, or topwater lures. Bass fishing is particularly popular in lakes and reservoirs.
Saltwater Fishing
- Salmon (Chinook, Coho, Sockeye, Pink, Chum): Chinook and Coho are commonly targeted in saltwater before returning to freshwater to spawn. Fishing techniques include trolling with herring or lures near the mouths of bays and rivers.
- Halibut: Halibut are large and flat, known for their firm, white meat. Halibut can get BIG – upwards of 100 pounds and almost 70 inches long, and this size makes them one of the most popular marine fish for anglers. Hauling in one of these very big boys can be rough work, but the reward is a delicious fish that can feed many people.
- Rockfish: Rockfish are found near rocky reefs and structures, and range in color from black to orange to red. More than two dozen species of rockfish can be found along the Oregon coast. Rockfish are known for their firm texture and mild flavor. Many rockfish species reach 16 inches, and some species, like black rockfish, group in schools while others are solitary. Individuals from some species can live to more than 100 years. Rockfish can be caught from jetties, but most are taken by boat in deeper ocean waters. Unlike most fish, who lay eggs, rockfish bear live young. Fishing techniques include jigging with metal lures or using bait like shrimp or squid near the bottom.
- Lingcod: Lingcod have large mouths and sharp teeth, and generally have mottled grey or brown coloring, but can sometimes have blue and green as well. Lingcod are about 1 foot in length by their first birthday, and 3 feet long when 10 to 12 years old, though they can grow up to 5 feet. Fishing techniques include bounce bait along the bottom with heavy tackle (5/0 or 6/0 hooks, a 4 to 6 ounce sinker, 20 pound line on a stout rod), and are often caught near rocky areas and reefs.
- Surfperch: Surfperch are disc-shaped and come in a variety of colors. Redtail and silver surfperch are mostly found in the surf, while striped surfperch, pile perch, white search and shiner surfperch live near rocks, docks and pilings in bays. ’Shiners’ are full-size at 5 inches, although other species reach 12 to 18 inches. Surfperch live in large schools and, like rockfish, bear live young, which can be up to 2 inches long. Fishing techniques include hooks, or a bottom fish fish-finder rig. Baits can be real or artificial, and include sand and kelp worms, sand shrimp, clam necks and mussels. Fishing for ‘redtails’ in the surf requires a surfperch surf-fishing rig.
- Sturgeon (green, white): In most areas, only catch-and-release is allowed. Sturgeon dwell on the bottom of deep holes in upper bays and anglers have to be careful for the sharp scutes (bony plates) along the sides. Sturgeon are a phenomenal fish: one white sturgeon once tipped the scales at 1500 pounds and measured 20 feet long. Most sturgeon in Oregon measure less than 12 feet. Both shore and boat anglers use shrimp, smelt or herring as bait.
- Albacore Tuna: Know for their strength, speed and streamlined bodies, Albacore Tuna can be a challenging catch. They are, however, prized for their delicious meat. The number of anglers pursuing albacore tuna off the Oregon coast is growing rapidly. The 2019 sport albacore season saw an incredible 102,510 albacore tuna landed by 15,311 fishing trips, despite necessitating trips of 30 miles or more offshore to locate the fish.
Types of Fishing
Freshwater
- Fly Fishing: popular for catching trout and steelhead in rivers and streams. Equipment includes fly rod, reel and specially designed fly lines. Popular destinations include Deschute and Mackenzie Rivers.
- Trolling: Effective for salmon and trout in lakes and reservoirs. Equipment includes rods, reels and trolling lures or bait. Popular destinations: Columbia River, Odell Lake.
- Drift Fishing: Drift fishing involves casting bait or lures upstream then allowing them to drift with the current. Commonly used for steelhead and salmon. Equipment includes spinning or bait casting rods and reels, drift rigs. Popular locations: Rogue and Umpqua Rivers.
- Casting: involves casting lures or bait then reeling them in, mimicking prey. Popular for bass and other freshwater species. Equipment includes spinning or bait casting rods and reels, and various lures. Popular locations: Williamette and John Day Rivers.
Saltwater
- Bottom Fishing: involves dropping baited hooks to the ocean floor. Used for species like halibut, rockfish and lingcod. Equipment includes heavy tackle, and bait like herring and squid. Best locations include the offshore water near Newport and Coos Bay.
- Trolling: involves drugging lures or bait behind a moving boat. Effective for tuna and salmon. Equipment includes rods, reels and trolling lures or bait. Best locations for trolling are generally near mouths of bays and rivers, and offshore waters.
- Jigging: involves moving a lure up and down in a water column to attract fish. Commonly used for rockfish and lingcod. Equipment includes jigging rods, reels and metal lures. Best locations include rocky reefs and structures along the coast.
- Surf fishing: involves fishing from a shore or beach, targeting species like surfperch. Equipment includes long rods, spinning reels, bait like sand shrimp and clams. As one might expect, beaches are the best location.
Best Spots for Fishing in Oregon
Freshwater Fishing
- Columbia River: The biggest river on the west coast, the Columbia River is renowned for its salmon and steelhead runs, but also offers opportunities to catch white sturgeon, bass, and walleye. The Columbia also has excellent carp fishing, although carp can be challenging fish to reel in.
- Deschutes River: Known for its excellent fly-fishing, the Deschutes River is home to varieties of trout and steelhead. The Lower Deschutes River offers excellent fishing for redound trout, as well as one of the best summer runs of steelhead in the state. The Upper Deschutes is favored after mid-summer into the winter. The Crane Prairie Reservoir on the Deschutes River is favored for its monster rainbow trout, along with Kokanee and brook trout, and largemouth bass.
- Diamond Lake: With more than 3000 acres of water and 9 miles of shoreline, surrounded by coniferous forest, Diamond Lake allows anglers plenty of easy access for fishing and some stunning views. Diamond Lake is also stocked regularly, and is considered one of best lakes for rainbow trout in the state. Rainbow trout will often reach trophy status by summer! Located just seven miles north of the northern entrance to Crater Lake National Park.
- McKenzie River: The McKenzie River flows through scenic landscapes and is known for its populations of king salmon, rainbow trout, and cutthroat trout. Much rainbow trout can be caught on a catch-and-release basis, but stocked trout can be had through fishing from the banks of the river. After spring, steelhead can be caught via fly fishing.
- Wallowa Lake: Hidden deep in the Wallowa Mountains in a county of the same name, Wollowa Lake features stocked wild rainbow and brook trout, Kokanee salmon and smallmouth bass. Since the lake doesn’t freeze over in the winter, anglers can fish in Wallowa Lake all year round.
- Rogue River: This mighty river flows for 215 miles in a westward direction. Renowned for its salmon runs and trout, the Rogue River also has abundant steelhead. Also known for its scenic, even dream-like, views, The Rogue River was one of the eight rivers originally named in the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968.
Saltwater Fishing
- NewPort: Located on Oregon’s central coast, Newport is known for excellent lingcod, rockfish and halibut fishing. Salmon fishing is also good, but perhaps overshadowed by other areas along the coast. Since the water warms a bit sooner than waters in other parts of the coast, expect the season to be a week or two ahead of schedule.
- Tillamook Bay: Located on the northern part of the Oregon coast, Tillamook Bay offers excellent fishing for salmon and lingcod. Countless rivers and creeks empty into the bay, making this a hotspot when salmon runs happen. There are many public access areas, and even a lake on the west side of the bay.
- Astoria: Located in the mouth of the Columbia River, Astoria is famous for its salmon and sturgeon. A great spot for both river and ocean fishing.
- Coos Bay: Coos Bay offers diverse fishing opportunities, including the chance to catch lingcod, rockfish and even tuna. The bay is also a popular spot for crabbing.
- Brookings: Renowned for its excellent bottom fishing, Brookings is a prime location for catching lingcod, rockfish and halibut.
Some Resources for Fishing in Oregon
Oregon fishing & hunting regulations and updates | Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife (myodfw.com)
Marine Zone | Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife (myodfw.com)
Regulation Highlights:
- Ocean Salmon
- Seasons and bag limits are announced in April/May. The 2024 ocean salmon sport regulations are now available on the ocean salmon webpage.
- Pacific Halibut
- Information on 2024 halibut fisheries can be found on the recreational halibut webpage.
- Rockfish / Cabezon / Lingcod / Etc.
- Information for the 2024 sport bottomfish regulations can be found on the sport bottomfish webpage.
- Surfperch
- 15 fish aggregate of all species per day.
- Flatfish
- 25 fish in aggregate. Flatfish refers to flounders, soles, sanddabs, and California halibut.
- Note: Skates and rays are not “flatfish”. See the 2024 sport bottomfish regulations.
- Tuna and other offshore pelagic species
- 25 fish per day.
When to go Fishing in Oregon
The best times to fish in Oregon are generally early morning and late evening. Summer and fall are considered the best months for most species in Oregon, though regional variations apply. For a thorough guide, visit the guide put out by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife:
https://freshwaterfishingadvice.com/best-times-seasons-oregon/
Best Times & Seasons to Fish in Oregon (Complete Guide) – Freshwater Fishing Advice
Oregon Fishing License
From Oregon Fish and Wildlife:
“Be sure to check for inseason regulation changes before fishing. Inseason changes can be found on MyODFW.com or by calling your local ODFW office. Persons 12 years or older must have an Oregon angling license and all anglers, regardless of age, need a combined angling tag to fish for salmon, steelhead, sturgeon, or Pacific halibut.”
Oregon Regions for Sportfishing
- Northwest Zone: Includes the coastal rivers and bays, known for salmon and steelhead runs.
- Southwest Zone: Features rivers like the Rogue and Umpqua, great for salmon, steelhead, and trout.
- Willamette Zone: Encompasses the Willamette River and its tributaries, popular for bass, trout, and salmon.
- Central Zone: Known for its high desert rivers and lakes, offering excellent trout and kokanee fishing.
- Northeast Zone: Includes the Blue and Wallowa Mountains, with opportunities for trout, steelhead, and salmon.
- Southeast Zone: Characterized by wide-open spaces and remote lakes, good for trout and warmwater species.
- Snake River Zone: The Snake River and its impoundments offer fishing for bass, catfish, and steelhead.
- Columbia River Zone: Renowned for its salmon and steelhead runs, as well as bass and walleye fishing.
- Marine Zone: Covers the Oregon coast, bays, and ocean waters, offering diverse saltwater fishing opportunities123.
Discover the Wild
Oregon offers one of the complex and beautiful landscapes in North America. Mountains in the Cascade Range can soar to more than 10,000 feet. Mount Hood, actually a dormant valance, is 11,249 feet tall, and features 12 glaciers! The mountain is covered in snow year-round, and people can ski here all year long. Crater Lake has a depth of 1943 feet, the deepest lake in the United States.
Oregon features forests, farm fields, grasslands, ocean coastlines, rivers, a mountain stretching from the entire length of the state, and even a semi-arid desert! A diverse range of birds, animals and fish – including 16 species listed as endangered by the federal government – inhabit the state, sharing space with its 4 million people.
The Oregon coast is lined with bluffs ideal for spotting grey whales. Some 500 types of migratory birds pass through the state in spring and fall, passing through some of the most prolific bird-watching sanctuaries in North America. All manner of wild animals populate Oregon’s wilds, including black bears, coyotes, sea and river otters, mountain lions and even a small population of grey wolves. The state is also home to the Roosevelt Elk, the largest species of elk on the continent.
