Oregon is home to a number of incredible fisheries on its lakes, rivers, and ocean. From fly fishing the scenic Deschutes River to traveling offshore to chase tuna and halibut, there are opportunities for every type of angler in this beautiful region.
These fisheries run year-round, so no matter the season, there is an opportunity to get outside to wet a line (so long as you’re willing to brave the weather.)
The locations also cover nearly all of Oregon, from trophy-sized Kokanee in Wallowa Lake in the far northeastern corner to the famous Buoy 10 chinook run near Astoria to steelhead fishing on the North Umpqua in the southwestern part of the state.
So grab the tackle box, gas up the boat, and head out for one of these incredible fishing opportunities in Oregon.
Fly Fishing during the Salmonfly Hatch on the Deschutes River
The Deschutes River is famous for its salmon fly hatch in May and June, which sends the local rainbow trout into a feeding frenzy. The timing of this hatch will vary year to year, so keep your ear to the ground, especially with your local fly fishing shops, to get the latest intel on when and where to drop a line.
If you miss the salmon fly hatch, don’t fret, as there are plenty of other hatches that take place on the Deschutes throughout the spring. They just don’t get quite as much publicity as “the big one.”
Buoy 10 Salmon Run on the Columbia River
Buoy 10, near the mouth of the Columbia River, offers one of the most famous salmon fisheries in the Pacific Northwest. As chinook salmon begin their pilgrimage back to their spawning grounds in the Columbia and its many tributaries, they must first pass through the mouth of the Columbia and the famous Buoy 10.
This fishery opens up each year in late summer, so come prepared for crowds, as plenty of folks will be here looking to hook into one of these incredible fish.
Summer Steelhead on the Rogue River
The Rogue River is renowned for its summer steelhead run, which peaks from July to September. But even outside of that timeframe, you can still find plenty of fish in this wild and scenic river as there is also a winter run along with holdovers that swim these waters year-round.
Many of the best fishing spots on the river are accessible by road or hike, although many anglers will drift sections to escape the crowds and enjoy the beauty of this stunning waterway.
Fall Chinook Salmon on Tillamook Bay
Tillamook Bay is a prime location for fall Chinook salmon fishing. Starting in mid-September, right about the time the Buoy 10 fishery near Astoria begins to draw to a close, Chinook starts to surge the bay, which makes it one of the best sport salmon fishing opportunities not just in Oregon but in the world.
While the weather can start to turn wild later in the season (the Oregon coast is famous for its stormy fall weather), the protected bay offers up some shelter from the relentless Pacific Ocean.
Winter Steelhead on the North Umpqua River
If you’re looking for an off-season fishing opportunity, then it doesn’t get much better than hitting the North Umpqua for the chance to land one of these chromers that run starting in mid-January and continue into the spring.
This river is considered one of the most challenging fly fishing rivers out there, so bring your A-game if you hope to land one of these bucket list fish.
Spring Chinook Salmon on the Willamette River
Starting in March, the first spring chinook salmon usually start showing up in the Willamette River around Portland. This is a celebrated time as it often means the long winter is over, and fishing season is here once again.
It also doesn’t hurt that chinook salmon are one of the most delicious fish out there, so landing one means you’ll be eating well that night.
Once the fish begin arriving, they will slowly make their way upriver as the temperatures warm, so their location can vary from week to week or even day to day.
Coastal Cutthroat Trout on the Siletz River
The Oregon coast is home to a healthy population of cutthroat trout that live between the fresh water of the local rivers and the salty ocean water of the Pacific. This means that you can catch them either upriver or near the brackish environments at the river mouth.
While cutthroat don’t grow to huge sizes (nice ones come in at the 15 – 18 inch range) they do put up a good fight and are a popular fish to catch on fly setups.
Head to the river during the fall months for the best chance to hook into one of these beautiful fish.
Sturgeon Fishing on the Columbia River
Many folks are unaware of how truly massive the sturgeon can grow on the Columbia River. These fish that thrive around the Columbia River Dam can live to ages of 100 years or more and grow to over 10 feet long and 1,000 pounds!
Fishing for sturgeon is a bucket list item for many fishermen, and because it is a catch-and-release-only fishery, it means that these giants of the river can continue to thrive for generations to come.
Halibut and Lingcod Fishing off the Oregon Coast
The waters off the Oregon Coast offer prime fishing opportunities for halibut, lingcod, and rockfish. Up and down the coast, you’ll find fishing charters ready and willing to zip you out to the local hot spots to fill up your freezer with lingcod and rockfish.
Getting on the halibut usually takes a bit longer, so expect those trips to take up most of the day versus the 4 or 5 hours for a rockfish/lingcod charter.
Depoe Bay is one of the best centrally-located Oregon coast towns for heading out on one of these charters, as the waters right outside the mouth of the harbor are super productive, and the local fleet of charter boats is second to none.
Kokanee Fishing in the Spring on Wallowa Lake
This remote section of Northeastern Oregon is home to a beautiful and deep lake known for its trophy, Kokanee. Wallowa Lake was formed when glaciers pushed their way down out of the majestic Wallowa Mountains, and today, it is a vacation destination for boaters, fishermen, and those looking just to get away from it all.
June is known as prime time for hooking into the local population of Kokanee, which spend their time near the surface while the lake temperature is still cool.
Later in the summer, the fish will make their way into deeper waters, which makes fishing for them without a downrigger nearly impossible.
