Bag limits lifted for Thief Valley, Pilcher Creek, and Wolf Creek reservoirs starting June 1
By Garrett Christensen on Friday, May 29th, 2026 in Northeastern Oregon News Northeastern Oregon Top Stories
UNION COUNTY – (Press release from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife) Effective June 1 through Sep. 30, minimum and maximum size limits as well as the daily and possession bag limits for rainbow trout and bass are suspended for Thief Valley Reservoir, Pilcher Creek Reservoir, and Wolf Creek Reservoir which are all located within the Southeast Zone in Union County. Harvest will be allowed by hand, dip net, or angling. A person with a valid Two-Rod Validation may use any number of rods.
Drought conditions in Eastern Oregon have prompted ODFW’s fish biologists to make this temporary rule change and they hope that it will give anglers a better opportunity to harvest trout and warmwater fish before the reservoir is drained. By implementing this change early in the season, anglers can target these fish before the water gets too warm and angling becomes less effective.
The three reservoirs, located near North Powder, are expected to be drawn completely down by the end of August. As the water level drops, any remaining stocked hatchery trout and warmwater game fish present in the reservoir will be trapped in isolated pools and die due to the warm and turbid water. In recent years, ODFW has made similar in-season changes for water drawdown in reservoirs.
“With the reservoirs expected to drop so quickly this summer, modifying the fishery now gives people the best chance to make use of these fish before conditions deteriorate,” said Tyler Hoyt, ODFW Assistant District Fish Biologist in La Grande. “While it’s always disappointing to see reservoirs go dry, allowing additional harvest ensures that these fish are used.”
Anglers are reminded that warm water conditions paired with low water can create blue-green algae blooms.
Please visit the Oregon Health Authority website for the latest updates on cyanobacteria blooms at https://www.oregon.gov/oha/ph/healthyenvironments/recreation/harmfulalgaeblooms/pages/blue-greenalgaeadvisories.aspx
For the most up-to-date in-season fishing regulation changes in Northeast and Southeast Oregon, visit myodfw.com/fishing/northeast-zone or myodfw.com/fishing/southeast-zone.
