What special fishing regulations apply at Brownlee Reservoir + Hells Canyon Reservoir?

Brownlee Reservoir + Hells Canyon Reservoir carries 3 special-regulation overlays that override Oregon's statewide 2026 rules, covering Smallmouth bass and Walleye. One of them reads: "Snake River OR/ID boundary reservoirs; both states honor each other's licenses under OR/ID Snake River reciprocal compact; smallmouth bass 6 / day under the Snake River Zone (3 daily limits in possession) — Brownlee Reservoir 12 in minimum on bass, Hells Canyon Reservoir no size limit; a 12–16 in no-harvest bass slot applies on listed Snake River Zone reaches (Oxbow Reservoir + Snake mainstem); walleye no bag / size limit (encouraged-removal non-native); crappie 25 / day no min; channel catfish 25 / day no min." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.

Do I need a fishing license to fish Brownlee Reservoir + Hells Canyon Reservoir?

Yes. Brownlee Reservoir + Hells Canyon Reservoir is in Oregon, so a valid Oregon fishing license is required just as it is anywhere else in the state, issued by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW). The special regulations on this page change the bag, size, slot, or gear rules for Hells Canyon reservoirs; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Oregon rules.

Do Brownlee Reservoir + Hells Canyon Reservoir's special rules replace Oregon's statewide limits?

Only where they conflict. Oregon's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Hells Canyon reservoirs by default; the overlays above replace the matching statewide rules for the species or gear they name, while everything not specifically overridden still follows the statewide rule. When a water-body rule and the statewide rule disagree, the water-body rule wins.

Which species have special rules on Hells Canyon reservoirs?

Smallmouth bass and Walleye have a water-body-specific rule on Brownlee Reservoir + Hells Canyon Reservoir, each linking to its full Oregon regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Oregon limits.

2026 regulation year

Brownlee Reservoir + Hells Canyon Reservoir 2026 — Oregon Fishing Regulations

Oregon statewide rules apply unless overridden below.

Last updated June 4, 2026

Brownlee Reservoir + Hells Canyon Reservoir carries 3 special-regulation overlays on top of Oregon's 2026 fishing rules — covering Smallmouth bass, Walleye. Verify the agency booklet before launching: in-season changes are not yet wired to this page.

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Watch Brownlee Reservoir + Hells Canyon Reservoir (OR) and we'll email you when a season, bag limit, slot, or closure changes. Free while in beta.

State-level special regulation

Snake River OR/ID boundary reservoirs; both states honor each other's licenses under OR/ID Snake River reciprocal compact; smallmouth bass 6 / day under the Snake River Zone (3 daily limits in possession) — Brownlee Reservoir 12 in minimum on bass, Hells Canyon Reservoir no size limit; a 12–16 in no-harvest bass slot applies on listed Snake River Zone reaches (Oxbow Reservoir + Snake mainstem); walleye no bag / size limit (encouraged-removal non-native); crappie 25 / day no min; channel catfish 25 / day no min
Source: Oregon special-water list

Per-species rules on Brownlee Reservoir + Hells Canyon Reservoir

Smallmouth bass regulations →
6 / day under the Snake River Zone (3 daily limits in possession) — NOT the 10/day statewide bag; Brownlee Reservoir 12 in minimum on bass, Hells Canyon Reservoir no size limit; a 12–16 in no-harvest bass slot applies on listed Snake River Zone reaches (Oxbow Reservoir + Snake mainstem). OR/ID Snake River reciprocal compact (both states honor each other's licenses); country's premier desert-canyon smallmouth fishery — confirm current ODFW Snake River Zone reach rules
Walleye regulations →
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 Oregon fishing regulations. Special-regulation lakes and rivers are listed in the agency booklet — always verify before fishing.

Visit official Oregon fishing regulations →

Emergency-order channel

In-season closures, slot-limit changes, and run-count-driven 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.

Other special-regulation waters in Oregon

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Frequently asked questions

What special fishing regulations apply at Brownlee Reservoir + Hells Canyon Reservoir?: Brownlee Reservoir + Hells Canyon Reservoir carries 3 special-regulation overlays that override Oregon's statewide 2026 rules, covering Smallmouth bass and Walleye. One of them reads: "Snake River OR/ID boundary reservoirs; both states honor each other's licenses under OR/ID Snake River reciprocal compact; smallmouth bass 6 / day under the Snake River Zone (3 daily limits in possession) — Brownlee Reservoir 12 in minimum on bass, Hells Canyon Reservoir no size limit; a 12–16 in no-harvest bass slot applies on listed Snake River Zone reaches (Oxbow Reservoir + Snake mainstem); walleye no bag / size limit (encouraged-removal non-native); crappie 25 / day no min; channel catfish 25 / day no min." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.
Do I need a fishing license to fish Brownlee Reservoir + Hells Canyon Reservoir?: Yes. Brownlee Reservoir + Hells Canyon Reservoir is in Oregon, so a valid Oregon fishing license is required just as it is anywhere else in the state, issued by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW). The special regulations on this page change the bag, size, slot, or gear rules for Hells Canyon reservoirs; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Oregon rules.
Do Brownlee Reservoir + Hells Canyon Reservoir's special rules replace Oregon's statewide limits?: Only where they conflict. Oregon's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Hells Canyon reservoirs by default; the overlays above replace the matching statewide rules for the species or gear they name, while everything not specifically overridden still follows the statewide rule. When a water-body rule and the statewide rule disagree, the water-body rule wins.
Which species have special rules on Hells Canyon reservoirs?: Smallmouth bass and Walleye have a water-body-specific rule on Brownlee Reservoir + Hells Canyon Reservoir, each linking to its full Oregon regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Oregon limits.

← Back to Oregon regulations overview