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The Scout · Oregon Fishing Guide 2026
The Scout · Field Guide
Oregon 2026
Fishing Guide
Seasons, limits, zones, and rules — plus an AI assistant that can answer your regulation questions in plain English.
⚠ Regulations Change Mid-Season
Salmon, steelhead, sturgeon & marine fish can open or close with 24–48 hrs notice.
2026 Free Fishing Days — No License Required
Feb 14–15 · June 6–7 · Nov 27–28
Oregon residents and visitors may fish, crab, and clam without a license on these days.
Licenses & Tags
Annual License
Required age 12+. Available at myODFW.com, sporting goods stores, and ODFW offices.
Salmon & Steelhead
Combined Angling Tag required — in addition to your fishing license. Annual limit of 20 combined.
Sturgeon
Annual limit of 2 white sturgeon. Tag required.
Halibut
Annual limit of 6. Tag required for retention.
Columbia River
Columbia River Basin Endorsement required for salmon, steelhead, sturgeon, and halibut in the Columbia River and its tributaries.
Two-Rod Validation
Purchase separately to fish with 2 rods where allowed. Youth under 12 may use 2 rods without validation.
Species & Limits
Chinook Salmon
Tag Required
Adults over 24". Jacks 15–24". Annual combined salmon/steelhead limit: 20. Hatchery fish on Hatchery Harvest Tag don't count toward annual limit.
Coho Salmon
Tag Required
Adults over 20". Jacks 15–20". Mark-selective fisheries require adipose fin-clipped (hatchery) fish only in many areas.
Steelhead
Tag Required
Longer than 20" (16" in NW/SW zones). Wild steelhead restricted in many rivers — check zone regulations. Combined annual limit with salmon: 20.
White Sturgeon ⚠
Retention: Limited Days Only
Retention is NOT open year-round. Catch-and-release allowed year-round. Retention only on specific ODFW-designated quota days — seasons close without notice. If open: 2 fish/year, 43"–54" fork length slot on Columbia. Single barbless hook only. Always verify at myODFW.com.
Pacific Halibut
Annual Limit: 6
Max 2 hooks, single rod. 1 daily bag limit on vessel, 3 daily limits on land. Open 24 hrs when season is open. Check ODFW for season dates.
Trout
Statewide
Shorter than 20" (16" in NW/SW zones). No angling for salmon, steelhead, or trout outside daylight hours (1 hr before sunrise to 1 hr after sunset).
Crayfish
No License
100 per day, 3 daily limits in possession. Open all year in all streams and lakes. Hand, baited lines, nets, rings and traps. No hooks.
Rockfish / Lingcod
Marine Zone
Open 24 hours when season is open. Bag limits vary — check current ODFW in-season updates as these change frequently based on harvest rates.
Key Rules
Rods
1 rod unless you have a Two-Rod Validation. Up to 5 rods when ice fishing with validation.
Hooks
Max 3 hooks per rod. Sturgeon: 1 single barbless hook only. Ocean salmon: max 2 single barbless hooks.
Daylight Rule
Salmon, steelhead, sturgeon, trout, and whitefish — daylight hours only (1 hr before sunrise to 1 hr after sunset) unless zone rules say otherwise.
Snagging
Prohibited for all game fish. Fish must be hooked inside the mouth.
Chumming
Prohibited in all inland waters. Allowed for offshore pelagic species (3+ miles from shore) only.
Live Bait
No live fish as bait except live nongame fish in ocean/bays/tidewaters from same waters. No goldfish, lamprey, live crayfish, or live leeches.
Catch & Release
Release all undersized, oversized, or unwanted fish immediately and unharmed. Do not remove from water if not keeping.
Regulations Change
Salmon, steelhead, and marine fish can change mid-season. Always check myODFW.com before you go.
Angling Zones
Oregon is divided into 9 angling zones. Zone-specific rules override statewide rules — always check the zone you're fishing in.
Willamette
Willamette River, tributaries. Most popular zone in the state.
Northwest
Tillamook, Nehalem, Nestucca, Wilson, Trask rivers.
Southwest
Rogue, Umpqua, Coquille, Coos rivers.
Marine
Pacific Ocean, coastal bays, beaches. Salmon, halibut, rockfish.
Columbia River
Columbia River mainstem. Endorsement required.
Central
Deschutes, John Day, Crooked rivers. High desert lakes.
Northeast
Grande Ronde, Minam, Wallowa, Imnaha rivers.
Southeast
Lake County, Harney County. Steens Mountain region.
Snake River
Snake River and tributaries. Idaho border waters.