When is walleye season in Oregon?

Oregon keeps walleye 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 walleye?

The Oregon daily bag limit for walleye is No bag limit and no size limit on the Columbia River Zone + most zones where walleye occur (ODFW manages walleye as a non-native species whose removal is encouraged to protect salmon + steelhead smolts); confirm zone-specific rules on OR/ID boundary waters. The possession limit is No possession limit on the Columbia River + no-limit zones. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.

What size walleye can you keep in Oregon?

The Oregon size rule for walleye is No size limit. Trophy rule: OR state-record walleye 19 lb 15.3 oz Columbia River 1990 (Arnold Berg) — for years among the country's largest walleye records; the Columbia pools (The Dalles + John Day + McNary) are the Pacific Northwest's premier walleye fishery, giving up 10+ lb fish regularly + true trophy females in the Feb–Apr pre-spawn.

Do you need a license to fish for walleye in Oregon?

Yes. Oregon requires a valid fishing license to fish for walleye, 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 walleye in Oregon?

Yes. In Oregon, walleye fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; trolling + bottom-bouncing spinner-and-worm rigs + blade baits + jigs along the deep current seams + wing dams are the standard Columbia walleye methods; ODFW Angling License required ages 12+ ($44 res annual / $116 NR annual); Combined Angling Tag not required for walleye; ODFW encourages harvest of all walleye (and bass) on the Columbia + Snake as non-native predators of juvenile salmon + steelhead — no bag or size limit in the Columbia River Zone.

Do specific Oregon waters have different walleye rules?

Yes. 3 named Oregon waters carry rules that override the statewide walleye regulation, including Columbia River, Owyhee Reservoir, Hells Canyon reservoirs. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

2026 regulation year

Oregon Walleye 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules

Sander vitreus

Last updated May 30, 2026

Oregon walleye (Sander vitreus) is a non-native, managed-for-removal fishery concentrated in the Columbia River impoundment pools — the Columbia is the Pacific Northwest's premier walleye fishery, and the pools behind The Dalles Dam + John Day Dam + McNary Dam regularly give up 10+ lb fish. OR state-record walleye 19 lb 15.3 oz Columbia River 1990 (Arnold Berg) — for years among the largest walleye records in the country, within a couple of pounds of the long-standing all-tackle marks. Walleye also hold in the lower Willamette, the Owyhee Reservoir + Owyhee River (Malheur County), and the Snake River boundary reservoirs (Brownlee + Hells Canyon). Because walleye are non-native and prey heavily on juvenile salmon + steelhead, ODFW manages them as an encouraged-removal species: the Columbia River Zone carries NO bag limit and NO size limit on walleye (and bass), open all year, and most other zones where walleye occur are similarly liberal — anglers are encouraged to harvest every walleye they catch. The Columbia walleye fishery peaks in the late-winter through spring pre-spawn (February–April), when the biggest females stage below the dams, and again in fall. Walleye are taken by bottom-bouncing spinner-and-worm rigs, blade baits, and jigs along the deep current seams + wing dams. Open all year.

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Season

Open year-round Open all year, no closed season; the late-winter–spring pre-spawn (Feb–Apr) below the Columbia dams + a fall bite are the peak windows. No bag or size limit on the Columbia + most zones (ODFW non-native removal policy).

Bag & possession

Daily bag: No bag limit and no size limit on the Columbia River Zone + most zones where walleye occur (ODFW manages walleye as a non-native species whose removal is encouraged to protect salmon + steelhead smolts); confirm zone-specific rules on OR/ID boundary waters
Possession: No possession limit on the Columbia River + no-limit zones

Size, slot, trophy rules

Size: No size limit
Trophy rule: OR state-record walleye 19 lb 15.3 oz Columbia River 1990 (Arnold Berg) — for years among the country's largest walleye records; the Columbia pools (The Dalles + John Day + McNary) are the Pacific Northwest's premier walleye fishery, giving up 10+ lb fish regularly + true trophy females in the Feb–Apr pre-spawn

Gear restrictions

Hook-and-line; trolling + bottom-bouncing spinner-and-worm rigs + blade baits + jigs along the deep current seams + wing dams are the standard Columbia walleye methods
ODFW Angling License required ages 12+ ($44 res annual / $116 NR annual); Combined Angling Tag not required for walleye
ODFW encourages harvest of all walleye (and bass) on the Columbia + Snake as non-native predators of juvenile salmon + steelhead — no bag or size limit in the Columbia River Zone

Named water-body overrides

Where statewide rules differ on specific Oregon waters:

Columbia River
No bag limit, no size limit, open all year (ODFW non-native removal policy); Pacific NW's premier walleye fishery; OR state-record walleye 19 lb 15.3 oz Columbia 1990 (Arnold Berg); The Dalles + John Day + McNary pools
Owyhee Reservoir
Walleye no bag / size limit (encouraged-removal non-native); eastern-OR Owyhee canyon fishery
Brownlee Reservoir + Hells Canyon Reservoir
Snake River OR/ID boundary reservoirs; walleye managed as an encouraged-removal non-native; confirm zone-specific rules under OR/ID Snake River reciprocity

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

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Emergency-order channel

Walleye 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 walleye season in Oregon?: Oregon keeps walleye 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 walleye?: The Oregon daily bag limit for walleye is No bag limit and no size limit on the Columbia River Zone + most zones where walleye occur (ODFW manages walleye as a non-native species whose removal is encouraged to protect salmon + steelhead smolts); confirm zone-specific rules on OR/ID boundary waters. The possession limit is No possession limit on the Columbia River + no-limit zones. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
What size walleye can you keep in Oregon?: The Oregon size rule for walleye is No size limit. Trophy rule: OR state-record walleye 19 lb 15.3 oz Columbia River 1990 (Arnold Berg) — for years among the country's largest walleye records; the Columbia pools (The Dalles + John Day + McNary) are the Pacific Northwest's premier walleye fishery, giving up 10+ lb fish regularly + true trophy females in the Feb–Apr pre-spawn.
Do you need a license to fish for walleye in Oregon?: Yes. Oregon requires a valid fishing license to fish for walleye, 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 walleye in Oregon?: Yes. In Oregon, walleye fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; trolling + bottom-bouncing spinner-and-worm rigs + blade baits + jigs along the deep current seams + wing dams are the standard Columbia walleye methods; ODFW Angling License required ages 12+ ($44 res annual / $116 NR annual); Combined Angling Tag not required for walleye; ODFW encourages harvest of all walleye (and bass) on the Columbia + Snake as non-native predators of juvenile salmon + steelhead — no bag or size limit in the Columbia River Zone.
Do specific Oregon waters have different walleye rules?: Yes. 3 named Oregon waters carry rules that override the statewide walleye regulation, including Columbia River, Owyhee Reservoir, Hells Canyon reservoirs. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

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