2026 regulation year
Oregon Lake trout (mackinaw) 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules
Salvelinus namaycush
Last updated
Oregon lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush — universally called mackinaw or laker here) is an introduced deep-cold-water char in a handful of the state's deepest Cascade lakes. Odell Lake (3,582-acre Willamette Pass lake — Klamath County — Deschutes National Forest — ~282 ft deep in its southern half) is THE Oregon mackinaw water — OR state-record lake trout 40 lb 8 oz Odell Lake 1984 (Ken Erickson, 45.5 in), a record that has stood more than 40 years — and hosts an annual Mackinaw Derby out of Odell Lake Lodge. Crescent Lake (4,547-acre Willamette Pass lake — Klamath County) + Cultus Lake (Deschutes County — Cascade Lakes Highway) carry the secondary mackinaw fisheries. Lake trout hold deep (100–250 ft) over the cold-water shelf through summer and are taken by deep trolling (lead-core / downriggers + large flatfish + spoons + tube jigs) or vertical jigging; they move shallower under the ice-out cold window in spring + late fall. ODFW manages Odell + Crescent mackinaw at 1 lake trout per day with a 24 in minimum length — a conservative limit that protects the slow-growing trophy fishery (a 40-lb laker may be 30+ years old). Open all year.
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Season
Open year-round Open all year; deep summer trolling + vertical jigging on Odell + Crescent + Cultus; fish move shallower in the ice-out cold window (spring + late fall). Odell + Crescent mackinaw 1 / day with a 24 in minimum.
Bag & possession
- Daily bag
- 1 / day with a 24 in minimum length on Odell + Crescent Lakes (Oregon's principal mackinaw waters)
Size, slot, trophy rules
- Size
- 24 in minimum on Odell + Crescent Lakes
- Trophy rule
- OR state-record lake trout 40 lb 8 oz Odell Lake 1984 (Ken Erickson, 45.5 in) — stood more than 40 years; Odell Lake is THE Oregon mackinaw water (annual Mackinaw Derby out of Odell Lake Lodge); a long-lived slow-growing char (a 40-lb laker may be 30+ years old) — ODFW's 1 / day, 24 in minimum limit protects the trophy fishery
Gear restrictions
- Hook-and-line; deep trolling (lead-core / downriggers + large flatfish + spoons + tube jigs) + vertical jigging are the standard mackinaw methods
- ODFW Angling License required ages 12+ ($44 res annual / $116 NR annual)
- Confirm current-year ODFW Sport Fishing Regulations for the Central Zone lake-by-lake lake-trout exceptions
Named water-body overrides
Where statewide rules differ on specific Oregon waters:
Odell Lake
Lake trout 1 / day, 24 in minimum length; Oregon's premier mackinaw water; OR state-record lake trout 40 lb 8 oz Odell 1984 (Ken Erickson, 45.5 in)
Crescent Lake
Lake trout 1 / day, 24 in minimum length; secondary Willamette Pass mackinaw fishery
Cultus Lake
Cascade Lakes mackinaw fishery; confirm current-year Central Zone lake trout rule
Official source
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) publishes the authoritative 2026 Oregonfishing regulations. Always verify the current rule before fishing — emergency closures and in-season changes can override what's published here.
The lake trout (mackinaw) rules on this page are sourced from Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW)'s official lake trout (mackinaw) regulation page.
Visit official Oregon fishing regulations →
Emergency-order channel
Lake trout (mackinaw) closures, slot-limit changes, and harvest pauses are posted to Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife's emergency-order feed — check it before any Oregon trip during the active season.
Frequently asked questions
- When is lake trout (mackinaw) season in Oregon?
- Oregon keeps lake trout (mackinaw) open to fishing year-round for the 2026 regulation year — there is no closed season, though the daily bag and size limits below still apply every day.
- What is the Oregon bag limit for lake trout (mackinaw)?
- The Oregon daily bag limit for lake trout (mackinaw) is 1 / day with a 24 in minimum length on Odell + Crescent Lakes (Oregon's principal mackinaw waters). Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
- What size lake trout (mackinaw) can you keep in Oregon?
- The Oregon size rule for lake trout (mackinaw) is 24 in minimum on Odell + Crescent Lakes. Trophy rule: OR state-record lake trout 40 lb 8 oz Odell Lake 1984 (Ken Erickson, 45.5 in) — stood more than 40 years; Odell Lake is THE Oregon mackinaw water (annual Mackinaw Derby out of Odell Lake Lodge); a long-lived slow-growing char (a 40-lb laker may be 30+ years old) — ODFW's 1 / day, 24 in minimum limit protects the trophy fishery.
- Do you need a license to fish for lake trout (mackinaw) in Oregon?
- Yes. Oregon requires a valid fishing license to fish for lake trout (mackinaw), with the usual exemptions for young children, state free-fishing days, and some senior or disabled-veteran categories. A license is valid only in the state that issued it, so non-residents need a Oregon license — compare resident and non-resident Oregon fees on the state regulations page below.
- Are there gear restrictions for lake trout (mackinaw) in Oregon?
- Yes. In Oregon, lake trout (mackinaw) fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; deep trolling (lead-core / downriggers + large flatfish + spoons + tube jigs) + vertical jigging are the standard mackinaw methods; ODFW Angling License required ages 12+ ($44 res annual / $116 NR annual); Confirm current-year ODFW Sport Fishing Regulations for the Central Zone lake-by-lake lake-trout exceptions.
- Do specific Oregon waters have different lake trout (mackinaw) rules?
- Yes. 3 named Oregon waters carry rules that override the statewide lake trout (mackinaw) regulation, including Odell Lake, Crescent Lake, Cultus Lake. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.