What special fishing regulations apply at Crater Lake National Park?

Crater Lake National Park carries 3 special-regulation overlays that override Oregon's statewide 2026 rules, covering Rainbow trout and Kokanee salmon. One of them reads: "ODFW + NPS joint management overlay — ODFW Angling License is controlling document inside the park (NPS Crater Lake Fishing License NOT required); UNLIMITED rainbow + kokanee salmon bag (introduced species — NPS native-fish restoration framework requires their removal — Crater Lake's only naturally-occurring fish populations are extinct so all current rainbow + kokanee must be removed); artificial-only + no live bait." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.

Do I need a fishing license to fish Crater Lake National Park?

Yes. Crater Lake National Park 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 Crater Lake National Park; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Oregon rules.

Do Crater Lake National Park's special rules replace Oregon's statewide limits?

Only where they conflict. Oregon's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Crater Lake National Park 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 Crater Lake National Park?

Rainbow trout and Kokanee salmon have a water-body-specific rule on Crater Lake National Park, each linking to its full Oregon regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Oregon limits.

2026 regulation year

Crater Lake National Park 2026 — Oregon Fishing Regulations

Oregon statewide rules apply unless overridden below.

Last updated June 4, 2026

Crater Lake National Park carries 3 special-regulation overlays on top of Oregon's 2026 fishing rules — covering Rainbow trout, Kokanee salmon. Verify the agency booklet before launching: in-season changes are not yet wired to this page.

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State-level special regulation

ODFW + NPS joint management overlay — ODFW Angling License is controlling document inside the park (NPS Crater Lake Fishing License NOT required); UNLIMITED rainbow + kokanee salmon bag (introduced species — NPS native-fish restoration framework requires their removal — Crater Lake's only naturally-occurring fish populations are extinct so all current rainbow + kokanee must be removed); artificial-only + no live bait
Source: Oregon special-water list

Per-species rules on Crater Lake National Park

Rainbow trout regulations →
UNLIMITED bag rainbow trout under NPS native-fish restoration removal policy (introduced species — all current rainbow + kokanee must be removed); artificial-only + no live bait; ODFW Angling License is controlling document
Kokanee salmon regulations →
Kokanee UNLIMITED under the NPS native-fish-removal policy (introduced kokanee must be removed); artificial-only, no live bait; ODFW Angling License is the controlling document

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 Crater Lake National Park?: Crater Lake National Park carries 3 special-regulation overlays that override Oregon's statewide 2026 rules, covering Rainbow trout and Kokanee salmon. One of them reads: "ODFW + NPS joint management overlay — ODFW Angling License is controlling document inside the park (NPS Crater Lake Fishing License NOT required); UNLIMITED rainbow + kokanee salmon bag (introduced species — NPS native-fish restoration framework requires their removal — Crater Lake's only naturally-occurring fish populations are extinct so all current rainbow + kokanee must be removed); artificial-only + no live bait." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.
Do I need a fishing license to fish Crater Lake National Park?: Yes. Crater Lake National Park 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 Crater Lake National Park; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Oregon rules.
Do Crater Lake National Park's special rules replace Oregon's statewide limits?: Only where they conflict. Oregon's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Crater Lake National Park 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 Crater Lake National Park?: Rainbow trout and Kokanee salmon have a water-body-specific rule on Crater Lake National Park, each linking to its full Oregon regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Oregon limits.

← Back to Oregon regulations overview