Oregon · Fishing regulations

Fishing regulations in Oregon.

Oregon is steelhead and salmon country — the Deschutes, North Umpqua, and Rogue are bucket-list rivers, and the John Day is one of the best smallmouth fisheries in the West.

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife · License: Anglers age 16 and older generally need a valid fishing license to fish in Oregon. Resident and non-resident licenses are sold online through the ODFW and at most sporting goods retailers. Annual, multi-day, and lifetime licenses are typically available. Senior, military, and youth discounts apply in most cases. Salmon, steelhead, sturgeon, and halibut require additional tags or endorsements. License costs and exact age thresholds change — verify with the ODFW before purchase.

Freshwater

Salmon (chinook, coho), steelhead, rainbow trout, native redband trout, brown trout, and bass dominate Oregon. The Deschutes, John Day, McKenzie, North Umpqua, and Rogue are flagship rivers. Bass, walleye, and panfish in the Columbia and reservoirs.

Rivers

The Deschutes is one of the great Western trout and steelhead rivers. The North Umpqua has a fly-only-water section that's iconic. The Rogue runs salmon and steelhead. The McKenzie has native redband trout. The John Day is a smallmouth river of national note.

Saltwater

Pacific salmon, halibut, lingcod, rockfish, and tuna offshore. Crab and clamming are heavily regulated separately. Some seasons close mid-year on quota.

Special

Wild salmon and steelhead are catch-and-release on most coastal rivers — only fin-clipped (hatchery) fish may be harvested. The North Umpqua fly-water above Rock Creek is one of the most regulated trout waters in the country. Halibut quotas close fast.

Popular species

Chinook salmon · Coho salmon · Steelhead · Rainbow trout (redband) · Smallmouth bass · Largemouth bass · Halibut

State agency

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

Agency site →

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