ODFW announces 2023 steelhead restrictions
By Terry Murry on Friday, December 30th, 2022 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
JOHN DAY – Steelhead fishing restrictions continue on the mid-Columbia River as well as portions of the John Day and Walla Walla rivers beginning Jan. 1, 2023. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife said continuing the restrictions are necessary due to a run that is just 45 percent of the 20-year average.
On the Columbia River mainstem upstream of the Dalles Dam, steelhead retention is closed from Jan. 1 through March 31. That closure also extends into Washington waters.
On the John Day River, angling for and retention of steelhead is closed from Jan. 1 through April 30 from the mainline railroad bridge in Tumwater Falls within the John Day River arm and from Tumwater Falls up to and including all tributaries of the John Day River Basin.
Steelhead angling and retention is closed on the Walla Walla River from the state line to the confluence of the North and South Forks. That closure will also run from Jan. 1 through April 30.
Steelhead runs are climbing on both the Umatilla and Deschutes rivers. Both have met their thresholds and will remain open to the retention of hatchery steelhead as of Jan. 1, 2023.
