Residents have a chance to comment on proposed 2026 Sport Fishing Regulations

By on Monday, August 4th, 2025 in Featured Stories More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News

ONTARIO – The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is currently seeking feedback on proposed changes to the 2026 sport fishing regulations. Changes specifically proposed for the Northeast Oregon District (as posted online by ODFW) Include:

Grand Ronde River

  • Section: Clark Creek Rd to Hilgard State Park
  • Proposal Number 36, Page Number 59
  • Regulation Type: Location
  • Purpose of Change: Housekeeping corrections
  • Current Regulation Clark Creek Rd to Hilgard State Park
  • Proposed Regulation: Clark Creek Rd. to the upstream end of Hilgard State Park.
  • Justification: The distance between the top and bottom of Hilgard state park is approximately 6 river miles. This rule is difficult for OSP to enforce as currently written. The upstream end of Hilgard State park provides anglers the most opportunity.

John Day River

  • Section: From Mainline Railroad Bridge to North Fork
  • Proposal Number 37, Page Number 59
  • Regulation Type: Season
  • Purpose of Change: Consideration of climate change impact
  • Current Regulation: Open all year for hatchery steelhead
  • Proposed Regulation: From Mainline Railroad Bridge to the ODFW marker 1/4 mile below Tumwater Falls: Closed to Salmon and steelhead angling from Sep 1 through Dec 31.
  • Justification: In this section water temperatures are often near critical thermal thresholds in Sep and Oct. Wild fish are concentrated in this section, this closure provides important protections. This has been implemented by temporary rule the past couple of years.

Lookinglass Creek and Tributaries

  • Proposal Number 38, Page Number 60
  • Regulation Type: Location
  • Purpose of Change: Housekeeping corrections
  • Current Regulation: Closed between 300 ft below Jarboe Cr and 200 ft above the hatchery water intake (0.4 Mi).
  • Proposed Regulation: Closed between Jarboe Cr and 200 ft above the hatchery water intake.
  • Justification: Provides location consistency with temporary rules often adopted for Chinook.

Wallowa Lake

  • Proposal Number 39, Page Number 60
  • Regulation Type: Size limit
  • Current Regulation:
  • Purpose of Change: Conservation need
  • Proposed Regulation: No limit on the size or number of lake trout.
  • Justification: Lake trout are undesirable in Wallowa Lake and may impact bull trout recovery as there is competition and predation concerns between the species.

Regulations will officially be decided at ODFW’s September 12 meeting in Ontario. For instructions on how to testify and submit feedback, along with more information on the proposed regulation changes, (including a link to the full list by region), see the following release from ODFW below:

Release from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

ODFW will be proposing several changes to next year’s Sport Fishing Regulations. The Commission will adopt 2026 regulations at their Sept. 12 meeting in Ontario.

Major staff proposals for changes include:

Allowing spearfishing for bass and walleye in more rivers and streams: Spearfishing is a popular alternative fishing method and the public has been requesting expanded opportunity. The change could also potentially help reduce impacts of bass and walleye on native fish.

Clarifying bag limits for kokanee: Currently, kokanee are considered trout and counted as part of the trout bag limit which can be confusing. The new bag limit would be a standard 10 kokanee per day (in addition to trout limits), no size limit, open all year, unless noted under Exceptions.

Making the coho seasons in the upper Willamette Basin permanent: There have been large coho runs above Willamette Falls the last few years, allowing for fishing seasons to be adopted under temporary rule. Moving forward, coho fishing would be open in the mainstem and some tributaries under permanent regulations with season dates (Oct. 1-Dec. 31) to protect spring Chinook and winter steelhead.

For a full list of proposed changes by zone.

Anglers and others interested have several options to provide comments or feedback:

  • Send an email to odfw.sportfishingregulations@odfw.oregon.gov These comments will be shared with the Fish and Wildlife Commission in advance of their decision.
  • Comment via this form on the Rulemaking page at odfw.com
  • Sign up to testify in person or remotely at the Sept. 12 Commission meeting. A sign up link will be available approximately two weeks prior to the meeting on the Commission web page, and you must register no later than 48 hours in advance of the meeting (by Sept. 10 at 8 a.m.)

Under a new policy meant to streamline regulations, ODFW solicits input for changes to fishing regulations every other year. The 2027 Sport Fishing Regulations should be similar to whatever is adopted for 2026. However, ODFW takes suggestions throughout the year. Anglers and others should contact their local district fish biologist to discuss or propose regulation changes.

Elkhorn Media Group