When is steelhead (anadromous rainbow trout) season in Oregon?

Summer-run June 1 – December 31 Columbia mainstem + Snake + Deschutes + Rogue + Umpqua + listed tribs; winter-run December 1 – April 30 coastal + Willamette + Columbia tribs. Those are the 2026 Oregon dates; always confirm against Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) before a trip, because an emergency order can shift an opener with little notice.

What is the Oregon bag limit for steelhead (anadromous rainbow trout)?

The Oregon daily bag limit for steelhead (anadromous rainbow trout) is 1 / day adult summer steelhead + 1 / day adult winter steelhead under Combined Angling Tag; ODFW-distinctive halfpounder steelhead Rogue + Klamath summer run 5 / day combined (Rogue + Klamath only). The possession limit is Reach-specific possession; punch-card tagging on every harvested fish under Combined Angling Tag. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.

What size steelhead (anadromous rainbow trout) can you keep in Oregon?

The Oregon size rule for steelhead (anadromous rainbow trout) is 20 in min adult on Columbia mainstem; 24 in min adult Rogue + Umpqua + Deschutes; reach-specific minimums elsewhere. Slot limit: ODFW-distinctive halfpounder steelhead Rogue + Klamath summer run 5 / day combined (Rogue + Klamath only — country's unique halfpounder fishery for fish that return to fresh water at smaller sizes 12-16 in their first year). Trophy rule: Columbia River OR/WA joint compact country's premier summer + winter steelhead anadromous fishery (~600,000 steelhead returning annually); Snake River Basin steelhead DPS migrate 500+ miles from Pacific upstream (longest anadromous fish migration in lower 48); North Umpqua wild and scenic 31-mile fly-fishing-only reach country's premier dry-fly summer steelhead reach (Zane Grey's historical 1920s Steamboat Inn destination); ODFW-distinctive halfpounder steelhead Rogue + Klamath summer run (country's unique halfpounder fishery); Lower Columbia River + Upper Willamette + Snake River Basin Steelhead DPS all federally Threatened ESA only hatchery-marked retained.

Do you need a license to fish for steelhead (anadromous rainbow trout) in Oregon?

Yes. Oregon requires a valid fishing license to fish for steelhead (anadromous rainbow trout), 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 steelhead (anadromous rainbow trout) in Oregon?

Yes. In Oregon, steelhead (anadromous rainbow trout) fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; trolling permitted on Columbia mainstem + ocean + listed reaches; Barbless single hook + artificial-fly-and-lure only on Umpqua + North Umpqua + Lower Deschutes Wild & Scenic reaches + listed Quality Management reaches; Fly-fishing-only on North Umpqua wild and scenic 31-mile reach below Soda Springs Dam to Rock Creek; Wild-clipped steelhead (no adipose-fin clip) must be released on Lower Columbia + Upper Willamette + Snake River Basin tribs (federally Threatened ESA only hatchery-marked retained); Combined Angling Tag required to harvest steelhead ($46.50 res / $46.50 NR same-fee) + punch-card tagging on every harvested fish; ODFW Angling License required ages 12+ ($44 res annual / $116 NR annual); Confirm current-year ODFW Sport Fishing Regulations for in-season emergency-closure updates under joint Columbia River Compact.

Do specific Oregon waters have different steelhead (anadromous rainbow trout) rules?

Yes. 5 named Oregon waters carry rules that override the statewide steelhead (anadromous rainbow trout) regulation, including Columbia River, N Umpqua wild & scenic, Rogue wild & scenic, and 2 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

2026 regulation year

Oregon Steelhead (anadromous rainbow trout) 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules

Oncorhynchus mykiss

Last updated May 27, 2026

Oregon steelhead fishery is country-defining — country's premier summer + winter steelhead anadromous fishery alongside WA + ID + BC + AK. The Columbia River (under the OR/WA Columbia River Compact administered jointly by ODFW + WDFW since 1918) carries ~600,000 steelhead returning annually through the summer-run June 1 – December 31 season + winter-run December 1 – April 30 season. The Snake River + lower Snake tribs (Imnaha + Grande Ronde + Wallowa + listed Snake tribs in Wallowa + Baker Counties) carry the country's premier inland summer-run steelhead return — anadromous fish that migrate 500+ miles from the Pacific upstream to the Snake + Salmon tribs, the longest anadromous fish migration in the lower 48. The North Umpqua wild and scenic 31-mile fly-fishing-only reach below Soda Springs Dam to Rock Creek (Douglas County — ODFW + USFS Umpqua National Forest joint management) is country's premier dry-fly summer steelhead reach + summer-run steelhead trophy fishery (Zane Grey's historical 1920s Steamboat Inn fly-fishing destination) — fly-fishing-only + artificial-fly-and-lure only + barbless single-hook required + steelhead 1 / day adult under Combined Angling Tag. The Rogue River 84-mile Wild & Scenic reach (Curry County — Grave Creek to Foster Bar) carries the country's premier southern Oregon steelhead Wild & Scenic river — wild-and-scenic 84-mile reach permits limited (Day-Use + Multi-Day Float Permits via Rec.gov lottery) + ODFW-distinctive halfpounder steelhead summer run (Rogue + Klamath unique to country — fish that return to fresh water at smaller sizes 12-16 in their first year before going back to ocean, named for their ~ half-pound weight). The Deschutes River Lower Deschutes 100-mile Wild & Scenic reach (below Pelton Round Butte Dam at Lake Billy Chinook downstream to the Columbia at Celilo Falls — BLM Prineville District + USFS + Warm Springs Confederated Tribes joint management) is country's premier high-desert summer steelhead fishery — ODFW-distinctive Lower Deschutes River Boater's Pass $9 res/NR + Warm Springs Tribal Permit required for tribal-water reaches + summer steelhead 1 / day adult under Combined Angling Tag + barbless single-hook + artificial-fly-and-lure only. The Willamette River + Sandy + Clackamas + coastal tribs (Tillamook + Nehalem + Nestucca + Salmon + Siletz + Alsea + Siuslaw + Umpqua + Coos + Coquille + Rogue) carry the country's most concentrated coastal winter-run steelhead return outside WA + BC + AK. The Lower Columbia River Steelhead DPS (Distinct Population Segment) + Upper Willamette River Steelhead DPS + Snake River Basin Steelhead DPS are all federally Threatened ESA — only hatchery-marked (adipose-fin-clipped) steelhead may be retained on listed reaches. ODFW + USFWS + Yakama + Umatilla + Warm Springs + Nez Perce four Columbia River treaty tribes joint harvest allocation under US v. Oregon federal-court-ordered allocation framework. ODFW stocks ~5 million smolt steelhead annually statewide via Cole Rivers + Klaskanine + Big Creek + Cedar Creek + Eagle Creek + Salmon River + Marion Forks + Round Butte + Sandy + Wallowa + Wizard Falls + Klamath + Trask + Bonneville + Leaburg + Oak Springs + Rock Creek State Fish Hatcheries. Open seasonally under Combined Angling Tag.

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Season

Summer-run June 1 – December 31 Columbia mainstem + Snake + Deschutes + Rogue + Umpqua + listed tribs; winter-run December 1 – April 30 coastal + Willamette + Columbia tribs.

June 1 – December 31Columbia mainstem + Snake + Deschutes + Rogue + Umpqua + listed inland tribs
Summer-run season — Snake River Basin steelhead DPS migrate 500+ miles from Pacific upstream (longest anadromous fish migration in lower 48)
December 1 – April 30Coastal + Willamette + Columbia tribs
Winter-run season — Lower Columbia + coastal winter steelhead return

Bag & possession

Daily bag: 1 / day adult summer steelhead + 1 / day adult winter steelhead under Combined Angling Tag; ODFW-distinctive halfpounder steelhead Rogue + Klamath summer run 5 / day combined (Rogue + Klamath only)
Possession: Reach-specific possession; punch-card tagging on every harvested fish under Combined Angling Tag

Size, slot, trophy rules

Size: 20 in min adult on Columbia mainstem; 24 in min adult Rogue + Umpqua + Deschutes; reach-specific minimums elsewhere
Slot: ODFW-distinctive halfpounder steelhead Rogue + Klamath summer run 5 / day combined (Rogue + Klamath only — country's unique halfpounder fishery for fish that return to fresh water at smaller sizes 12-16 in their first year)
Trophy rule: Columbia River OR/WA joint compact country's premier summer + winter steelhead anadromous fishery (~600,000 steelhead returning annually); Snake River Basin steelhead DPS migrate 500+ miles from Pacific upstream (longest anadromous fish migration in lower 48); North Umpqua wild and scenic 31-mile fly-fishing-only reach country's premier dry-fly summer steelhead reach (Zane Grey's historical 1920s Steamboat Inn destination); ODFW-distinctive halfpounder steelhead Rogue + Klamath summer run (country's unique halfpounder fishery); Lower Columbia River + Upper Willamette + Snake River Basin Steelhead DPS all federally Threatened ESA only hatchery-marked retained

Gear restrictions

Hook-and-line; trolling permitted on Columbia mainstem + ocean + listed reaches
Barbless single hook + artificial-fly-and-lure only on Umpqua + North Umpqua + Lower Deschutes Wild & Scenic reaches + listed Quality Management reaches
Fly-fishing-only on North Umpqua wild and scenic 31-mile reach below Soda Springs Dam to Rock Creek
Wild-clipped steelhead (no adipose-fin clip) must be released on Lower Columbia + Upper Willamette + Snake River Basin tribs (federally Threatened ESA only hatchery-marked retained)
Combined Angling Tag required to harvest steelhead ($46.50 res / $46.50 NR same-fee) + punch-card tagging on every harvested fish
ODFW Angling License required ages 12+ ($44 res annual / $116 NR annual)
Confirm current-year ODFW Sport Fishing Regulations for in-season emergency-closure updates under joint Columbia River Compact

Named water-body overrides

Where statewide rules differ on specific Oregon waters:

Columbia River
Summer steelhead 1 / day adult June 1 – December 31; winter steelhead 1 / day adult December 1 – April 30; OR/WA joint reciprocal compact; ~600,000 steelhead returning annually
North Umpqua wild and scenic 31-mile reach
Country's premier dry-fly summer steelhead reach; fly-fishing-only + artificial-fly-and-lure only + barbless single-hook required; steelhead 1 / day adult under Combined Angling Tag; Zane Grey's historical 1920s Steamboat Inn destination
Rogue River 84-mile Wild & Scenic reach
ODFW-distinctive halfpounder steelhead summer run 5 / day combined (Rogue + Klamath only); Wild & Scenic permits limited via Rec.gov lottery; country's premier southern OR steelhead fishery
Deschutes River Lower Deschutes 100-mile Wild & Scenic reach
Summer steelhead 1 / day adult; Warm Springs Confederated Tribes tribal harvest allocation; Lower Deschutes Boater's Pass $9 + Warm Springs Tribal Permit required for tribal-water reaches; barbless single-hook + artificial-fly-and-lure only
Snake River + Imnaha + Grande Ronde + Wallowa tribs
Summer steelhead 1 / day adult; federally Threatened ESA only hatchery-marked retained; anadromous fish migrate 500+ miles from Pacific (longest in lower 48)

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 steelhead (anadromous rainbow trout) rules on this page are sourced from Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW)'s official steelhead (anadromous rainbow trout) regulation page.

Visit official Oregon fishing regulations →

Emergency-order channel

Steelhead (anadromous rainbow trout) 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 steelhead (anadromous rainbow trout) season in Oregon?: Summer-run June 1 – December 31 Columbia mainstem + Snake + Deschutes + Rogue + Umpqua + listed tribs; winter-run December 1 – April 30 coastal + Willamette + Columbia tribs. Those are the 2026 Oregon dates; always confirm against Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) before a trip, because an emergency order can shift an opener with little notice.
What is the Oregon bag limit for steelhead (anadromous rainbow trout)?: The Oregon daily bag limit for steelhead (anadromous rainbow trout) is 1 / day adult summer steelhead + 1 / day adult winter steelhead under Combined Angling Tag; ODFW-distinctive halfpounder steelhead Rogue + Klamath summer run 5 / day combined (Rogue + Klamath only). The possession limit is Reach-specific possession; punch-card tagging on every harvested fish under Combined Angling Tag. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
What size steelhead (anadromous rainbow trout) can you keep in Oregon?: The Oregon size rule for steelhead (anadromous rainbow trout) is 20 in min adult on Columbia mainstem; 24 in min adult Rogue + Umpqua + Deschutes; reach-specific minimums elsewhere. Slot limit: ODFW-distinctive halfpounder steelhead Rogue + Klamath summer run 5 / day combined (Rogue + Klamath only — country's unique halfpounder fishery for fish that return to fresh water at smaller sizes 12-16 in their first year). Trophy rule: Columbia River OR/WA joint compact country's premier summer + winter steelhead anadromous fishery (~600,000 steelhead returning annually); Snake River Basin steelhead DPS migrate 500+ miles from Pacific upstream (longest anadromous fish migration in lower 48); North Umpqua wild and scenic 31-mile fly-fishing-only reach country's premier dry-fly summer steelhead reach (Zane Grey's historical 1920s Steamboat Inn destination); ODFW-distinctive halfpounder steelhead Rogue + Klamath summer run (country's unique halfpounder fishery); Lower Columbia River + Upper Willamette + Snake River Basin Steelhead DPS all federally Threatened ESA only hatchery-marked retained.
Do you need a license to fish for steelhead (anadromous rainbow trout) in Oregon?: Yes. Oregon requires a valid fishing license to fish for steelhead (anadromous rainbow trout), 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 steelhead (anadromous rainbow trout) in Oregon?: Yes. In Oregon, steelhead (anadromous rainbow trout) fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; trolling permitted on Columbia mainstem + ocean + listed reaches; Barbless single hook + artificial-fly-and-lure only on Umpqua + North Umpqua + Lower Deschutes Wild & Scenic reaches + listed Quality Management reaches; Fly-fishing-only on North Umpqua wild and scenic 31-mile reach below Soda Springs Dam to Rock Creek; Wild-clipped steelhead (no adipose-fin clip) must be released on Lower Columbia + Upper Willamette + Snake River Basin tribs (federally Threatened ESA only hatchery-marked retained); Combined Angling Tag required to harvest steelhead ($46.50 res / $46.50 NR same-fee) + punch-card tagging on every harvested fish; ODFW Angling License required ages 12+ ($44 res annual / $116 NR annual); Confirm current-year ODFW Sport Fishing Regulations for in-season emergency-closure updates under joint Columbia River Compact.
Do specific Oregon waters have different steelhead (anadromous rainbow trout) rules?: Yes. 5 named Oregon waters carry rules that override the statewide steelhead (anadromous rainbow trout) regulation, including Columbia River, N Umpqua wild & scenic, Rogue wild & scenic, and 2 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

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