There’s a wealth of opportunity for fishing throughout the year in Oregon, thanks to a healthy mix of wild and hatchery fish that replenish the state’s gorgeous waterways. We thought we’d break down some of the best places to go and when so you can make the most out of your fishing trip, no matter what time of year you go.
- Necanicum River
“Necanicum River looking north at Seaside - Oregon” by M.O. Stevens - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons This river enters the ocean at Seaside, where a healthy dose of hatchery fish arrive in early winter, with wild ones that follow later in the season.
- Deschutes River
Christopher/Flickr The lower 100 miles of this river are some of the country’s best trout steams.
- Diamond Lake
LDELD/Flickr This high-country lake, just east of Roseburg, is an ideal destination for fat rainbow trout.
- Eagle Creek
Will/Flickr If you’re in the Portland area, this is the spot for you. Here you can find winter steelhead and coho salmon in the early fall.
- John Day River
Bureau of Land Management/Flickr Smallmouth bass fishing (what this place is known for) is available between March and October.
- McKenzie River
Matt Malone/Flickr One of the state’s best sources of trout, both wild and stocked, as well as chinook salmon during the spring and summertime steelhead.
- Multnomah Channel
Whateverthing/Flickr This is a popular fishery on the lower Willamette River for springtime chinook salmon.
- Nestucca River
“OregonCoastRangeRiver” by M.O. Stevens at en.wikipedia - Transferred from en.wikipedia; transferred to Commons by User:Aboutmovies using CommonsHelper.. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons This river, which enters the ocean at Pacific City, is a nice source for chinook salmon during the spring and fall seasons and steelhead during winter and summer.
- Umpqua River
Frank Kovalchek/Flickr The best time of year for steelhead fishing on the mainstream of this river is spring and early summer, while the fish are moving through the water.
- Williamson River
jmerriam7/Flickr Love rainbow trout? This spot north of Klamath Falls is a great source for them.
These are some of our favorite places to take in a day of fishing. But you probably have some spots that are real hidden gems. Please share the wealth in the comments below!
“Necanicum River looking north at Seaside - Oregon” by M.O. Stevens - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
This river enters the ocean at Seaside, where a healthy dose of hatchery fish arrive in early winter, with wild ones that follow later in the season.
Christopher/Flickr
The lower 100 miles of this river are some of the country’s best trout steams.
LDELD/Flickr
This high-country lake, just east of Roseburg, is an ideal destination for fat rainbow trout.
Will/Flickr
If you’re in the Portland area, this is the spot for you. Here you can find winter steelhead and coho salmon in the early fall.
Bureau of Land Management/Flickr
Smallmouth bass fishing (what this place is known for) is available between March and October.
Matt Malone/Flickr
One of the state’s best sources of trout, both wild and stocked, as well as chinook salmon during the spring and summertime steelhead.
Whateverthing/Flickr
This is a popular fishery on the lower Willamette River for springtime chinook salmon.
“OregonCoastRangeRiver” by M.O. Stevens at en.wikipedia - Transferred from en.wikipedia; transferred to Commons by User:Aboutmovies using CommonsHelper.. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons
This river, which enters the ocean at Pacific City, is a nice source for chinook salmon during the spring and fall seasons and steelhead during winter and summer.
Frank Kovalchek/Flickr
The best time of year for steelhead fishing on the mainstream of this river is spring and early summer, while the fish are moving through the water.
jmerriam7/Flickr
Love rainbow trout? This spot north of Klamath Falls is a great source for them.
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