Northeast Zone
Table of Contents
Recreation Report
March 20, 2024
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.
Best bets for weekend fishing
- Steelhead fishing can be good on the Wallowa and Imnaha Rivers when they are not running murky.
- Wallowa Lake is ice free and should have some holdover rainbow trout.
Recently stocked
Scheduled to be stocked the week of March 18:
Hat Rock Pond, Tatone Pond, McNary Channel Ponds
Check the 2024 trout stocking schedule.
Trout stocking maps
Check out the ODFW fishing and trout stocking maps to find nearby fishing locations, driving directions and descriptions of amenities.
Announcements
Ice fishing safety
Ice conditions on many waterbodies have deteriorated quickly. Some waterbodies that were safe for ice fishing a few weeks ago now pose a serious risk. We don't recommend ice fishing right now. If you do go, please exercise extreme caution when venturing on to the ice.
Fish consumption advisories
The Oregon Health Authority has issued consumption guidelines for various waterbodies in Oregon including the Snake and Columbia Rivers due to high levels of mercury and/or PCBs. Fish with these chemicals look, act, smell and taste like any other fish, so caution is important.
- Statewide advisories
- Bonneville Dam fish advisory
- Safe fish choices for pregnancy and young children
E-tagging tips for anglers
It's important for anglers to tag their salmon and steelhead immediately, which means you'll need to know how to navigate the MyODFW app outside of cell phone range. Here are some tips for e-tagging in the field.
Sign up for the latest information on boater access
Marine Board's Opportunities and Access Report incorporates information from federal and state agencies, local facility operators and fellow boaters to provide up-to-date information so boaters can decide where to recreate and what to expect this season. Subscribe to receive email updates.
Got a good fish story?
If you have been out fishing and have a recent fishing report you would like to share, we would love to hear it! Please send your fishing updates to: odfw.info@odfw.oregon.gov.
Updates by waterbody
ALDRICH PONDS (Roosevelt and Stewart Lakes): trout (2 fish limit)
The access road to the ponds closed on Dec. 1 as part of the annual winter range closure. The access road to the ponds will reopen on April 15, 2024. Last updated 12/13/23.
GRANDE RONDE RIVER: trout, whitefish, steelhead
Steelhead fishing has begun to slow as fish move upriver into the Wallowa River. However, steelhead will continue to be available into the spring. Trout and whitefish can be caught year-round in the Grande Ronde, and detections of tagged fish indicate there are lots of whitefish in the Grande Ronde near Elgin. Last updated 2/21/24.
HAT ROCK POND: trout
Hat Rock Pond will be stocked during the week of May 1. Anglers should find success using PowerBait, worms or spinners and focusing their efforts in the mornings or evenings. Last updated 5/3/23.
IMNAHA RIVER: trout, whitefish, steelhead
From now through the end of the season in April can be some of the best times for steelhead fishing on the Imnaha River as fish move upriver toward the hatchery. Fish will be available throughout the river downstream of the town of Imnaha. The best public access is downstream of Horse Creek. Anglers fishing the Imnaha closer toward town need to be sure to get landowner permission before accessing private lands. Bait, jigs and flies can all be effective ways of targeting steelhead in the Imnaha River.
Anglers should remember they might encounter bull trout in the Imnaha River. They cannot be harvested and must be released. Last updated 2/27/24.
JOHN DAY RIVER: steelhead
Weather and river conditions remain highly variable. The John Day has generally been slightly murky, but steelhead are being caught. Fishing has been a little slow likely due to river conditions, and long-term weather outlook is calling for more precipitation in the coming weeks. River visibility will likely continue to vary, but shouldn't preclude fishing.
Bass fishing is still an option, but fishing will likely be slow until the spring. Last updated 2/38/24.
MAGONE LAKE: rainbow and brook trout
The road to the lake is not accessible to vehicles in winter due to snow. Ice fishing can be a good bet in the winter when ice conditions are safe, if you can access the lake with a snowmobile. Last updated on 9/13/23.
McNARY PONDS: walleye, bass and trout.
Trout are likely to be the most active in the morning and late evening hours. Anglers should find success using PowerBait, worms or spinning lures. Last updated 5/3/23.
MORGAN LAKE: rainbow trout and bass
Morgan Lake closed for fishing on Oct. 31 and will remain closed until the regular opener in April. Follow this link for more information about recreation at Morgan Lake. Last updated 11/1/23.
UMATILLA RIVER: fall Chinook, coho, summer steelhead, trout, bass, walleye
With flows still low and water temperatures starting to finally cool, anglers should head to upper headwaters this Labor Day weekend in search of trout. Anglers should focus on deeper holes. If you catch a bull trout, recognized by its white spots, please keep it in the water and release it as quickly as possible.
The fall Chinook, coho and summer steelhead fishery on the Umatilla River opens Sept. 1, 2023. The bag limit is 3 adult fall Chinook salmon, coho salmon or hatchery summer steelhead in aggregate per day and jack salmon.
The fall fisheries will be monitored very closely by fisheries managers to make sure that enough fish are returning for the Umatilla broodstock programs, but returns should provide angling opportunities to harvest fall Chinook, coho and steelhead this year. Last updated 8/30/23.
WALLA WALLA RIVER:
Steelhead fishing is now closed and due to the very low returns over the past number of years the fishery will remain closed to protect the small number of wild fish that are still returning. Last updated 5/22/23.
WALLOWA COUNTY PONDS: rainbow trout
Stocked trout are available at local ponds including Marr Pond and Kinney Lake. It has been a mild winter so far, which means ice conditions are probably poor on local waterbodies that are frozen over. Anglers should use extreme caution near frozen waterbodies.
Marr Pond has been ice-free for some time providing easy fishing access. Recently, surplus steelhead have been released into Marr Pond. When fishing Marr Pond, anglers do not need to have a combined angling tag or Columbia Basin endorsement to fish for the steelhead released, and any steelhead caught in Marr Pond count toward the angler's trout limit and does not need to be recorded on a combined angling or hatchery harvest tag. Last updated 2/21/24.
WALLOWA LAKE: rainbow trout, kokanee, lake trout
Rainbow trout, kokanee and lake trout are available throughout the fall and winter for hardy anglers willing to fish during the colder months. Trout anglers can do best near the south end of the lake whereas kokanee and lake trout will be more dispersed. The lake is ice-free, and the boat ramps are accessible although the docks may not be in. Last updated 1/31/24.
WALLOWA RIVER: whitefish, trout, steelhead
Steelhead fishing was quite good on the Wallowa River over the winter when the water was not too high or murky. Fish are distributed throughout the river. Anglers can find good fishing access from Minam State Park upstream through the Wallowa Canyon. There also is some good fishing water downstream of Minam State Park for those willing to hike.
Recent precipitation and warmer weather resulted in increased flows. Conditions like this can lead to murky water which can make fishing more difficult. Steelhead and trout fishing can be good throughout the spring but can be affected by changes in stream flows. Last updated 2/27/24.
WILLOW CREEK RESERVOIR: trout, crappie, bass
No recent reports. Last updated 11/8/23.
Regulation Updates
Regulation updates as of January 2, 2024.
The following regulations reflect changes or additions to the permanent regulations listed in the 2023 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations. All other permanent regulations remain in effect. Please see e-regulations.
McKay Creek
Reminder: McKay Creek is closed to angling for salmon and steelhead by permanent rule.
For more information contact your local ODFW office:
- Enterprise (541) 426-3279
- John Day (541) 575-1167
- La Grande (541) 963-2138
- Pendleton (541) 276-2344