Catch Limits

Length Limits and Other Specifications

Season

Lakes: 5 per day, 2 daily limits in possession. Streams: catch and release only, except as noted under Special Regulations.

• Angling restricted to artificial flies and lures in streams. See exceptionsunder Special Regulations where use of bait is allowed.
• 8-inch minimum length.
• Only 1 trout over 20 inches in length may be taken per day.
• Rainbow trout over 20 inches are considered steelhead in streams.
• Salmon under 15 inches are considered trout, except coho salmon,
• which are always considered salmon regardless of size.
• Closed to angling for bull trout.
• Kokanee included in trout limits except as noted under Special Regulations.

Lakes: Open all year. Streams: Open May 26-Oct. 31 see Special Regulations for this zone and Willamette Zone map on pages 42-43 for streams that are open April 28-Oct. 31.

In the aggregate: 2 adult salmon or steelhead per day, 20 per year. 5 jacks per day, 2 daily jack limits in possession, with the exception that in the Willamette River and tributaries of the Willamette Basin above Willamette Falls, 1 additional adipose fin-clipped steelhead may be retained per day for a total aggregate of 3 adult fish harvested daily.

• Angling is restricted to artificial flies and lures in streams. See exceptions under Special Regulations where use of bait is allowed.
• NOTE: Changes to salmon regulations for the Columbia River system including changes to the Willamette River system are printed in May and are available at ODFW offices or from license agents. Check for new regulations before you fish.
• Harvest of non-adipose fin-clipped salmon or steelhead is prohibited in the Willamette Zone with the exception of coho salmon above Willamette Falls as noted under Special Regulations. There is no annual limit on adipose fin-clipped salmon or adipose fin-clippedsteelhead as long as the appropriate number of Hatchery Harvest Tags have been purchased to record the catch.

Closed in all waters unless noted by species under Special Regulations.  

See chart below for season and locations.

5 per day, 2 daily limits in possession.

• No more than 3 over 15 inches in length.
• Willamette River mainstem above Hwy 20 Bridge at Albany, the Santiam and Calapooia basins: no limit on size or number taken.
• Angling restricted to artificial flies and lures in streams. See exceptions under Special Regulations where use of bait is allowed.

Lakes: Open all year. Streams: Open during trout, salmon or steelhead seasons, except mainstem Willamette River and sloughs and tidewater areas of Columbia River tributaries downstream from Bonneville Dam are open all year.

Bluegill, Catfish, Crappie, Other Sunfish, Walleye, and Yellow Perch

• No minimum length.
• Angling restricted to artificial flies and lures in streams. See exceptions under Special Regulations where use of bait is allowed.

Other Fish:

Sturgeon

1 per day, 5 per year.

• Minimum length 42 inches, maximum length 60 inches.
• All oversize, undersize, and unwanted legal size sturgeon must be immediately released unharmed into the water.
• Only one single-point, barbless hook may be used for sturgeon angling in the lower Willamette River below Willamette Falls including the Multnomah Channel and all tributaries to the Multnomah Channel and the lower Willamette River.
• Oversize sturgeon cannot be removed totally or in part from the water.
• Angling restricted to artificial flies and lures in streams. See exceptions under Special Regulations where use of bait is allowed.
• NOTE: Sturgeon fisheries are managed on a quota basis. Anglers should check the status of regulations prior to fishing as modifications will be made in-season if necessary to remain within catch guidelines.

Lakes: Open all year.
Streams: Open during trout, salmon or steelhead seasons, except mainstem Willamette River and sloughs and tidewater areas of Columbia River tributaries downstream from Bonneville Dam are open all year.

2 per 24 consecutive hours, 2 daily limits in possession.

• 30-inch minimum length.
• Angling restricted to artificial flies and lures in streams. See exceptions under Special Regulations where use of bait is allowed.

Water

Special Regulations

Blue River (McKenzie Basin, Lane Co.):

1. Mainstemand tributaries downstream from Blue River Dam

• Open for adipose fin-clipped steelhead and adipose fin-clipped trout April 28-Oct. 1.
• 5adipose fin-clipped trout per day, no minimum length.
• Useof bait allowed.

2. Mainstem and tributaries upstream from Blue River Reservoir

• Open for trout April 28-Oct. 31.
• 5 trout per day, 8-inch minimum length.
• Use of bait allowed.

McKenzie River (Lane/Linn Co.):

1. Mouth upstream to Hayden Bridge

• Open for trout entire year, catch and release only as per Zone Regulations.
• Open for adipose fin-clipped steelhead entire year.
• Open for adipose fin-clipped chinook salmon Jan. 1-Aug. 15.
• Angling restricted to artificial flies and lures, as per Zone Regulations.

2. Hayden Bridge upstream to Forest Glen boat ramp near Blue River (see separate entry for Walterville Canal)

• Open for adipose fin-clipped steelhead entire year.
• Open Jan. 1-April 27, catch and release for trout.
• Angling restricted to artificial flies and lures Jan. 1-Apr. 27.
• Open April 28-Dec. 31, 5 adipose fin-clipped trout per day, no minimum length.
• Use of bait allowed April 28-Dec. 31.
• Open for adipose fin-clipped chinook salmon Jan. 1-Aug. 15 from Hayden Bridge to the ODFW markers, approximately 200 feet below the fishways at Leaburg Dam.
• Closed within:
• The Leaburg powerhouse tailrace.
• 200 feet downstream of Leaburg Dam to 200 feet upstream of Leaburg Dam.

3. Tributaries not listed upstream to Clear Lake

• Open for trout April 28-Oct. 31.
• Angling restricted to artificial flies and lures, as per Zone Regulations.

4. Forest Glen boat ramp near Blue River upstream to Trail Bridge Dam

• Open for adipose fin-clipped steelhead April 28-Oct. 31.
• Angling restricted to artificial flies and lures, as per Zone Regulations.
• Open for trout April 28-Oct. 31.
• Closed to angling within the Carmen Spawning Channel and in the McKenzie River 200 feet downstream from the Carmen Spawning channel entrance.

5. South Fork McKenzie

• Open for trout April 28-Oct. 31.
• Angling restricted to artificial flies and lures, as per Zone Regulations.
• Closed to angling from Cougar Dam downstream 700 feet (to concrete supports of the old adult fish trap).

6. Carmen Reservoir to Clear Lake

• Open for trout April 28-Oct. 31, 5 trout per day, 8-inch minimum length.
• Use of bait allowed.
• No limit on size or number of brook trout taken. Catch limits on other trout species do not apply to brook trout.