What special fishing regulations apply at Deschutes River Lower Deschutes 100-mile Wild & Scenic reach?

Deschutes River Lower Deschutes 100-mile Wild & Scenic reach carries 2 special-regulation overlays that override Oregon's statewide 2026 rules, covering Steelhead (anadromous rainbow trout). One of them reads: "Country's premier high-desert summer steelhead + native redband rainbow trout fishery; ODFW-distinctive Lower Deschutes River Boater's Pass $9 res/NR + Warm Springs Tribal Permit required for tribal-water reaches; native redband rainbow 2 / day with 10-13 in slot + only 1 fish over 20 in / day Quality Management; summer steelhead 1 / day adult under Combined Angling Tag; barbless single-hook + artificial-fly-and-lure only." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.

Do I need a fishing license to fish Deschutes River Lower Deschutes 100-mile Wild & Scenic reach?

Yes. Deschutes River Lower Deschutes 100-mile Wild & Scenic reach 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 Lower Deschutes River; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Oregon rules.

Do Deschutes River Lower Deschutes 100-mile Wild & Scenic reach's special rules replace Oregon's statewide limits?

Only where they conflict. Oregon's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Lower Deschutes River 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 Lower Deschutes River?

Steelhead (anadromous rainbow trout) has a water-body-specific rule on Deschutes River Lower Deschutes 100-mile Wild & Scenic reach, each linking to its full Oregon regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Oregon limits.

2026 regulation year

Deschutes River Lower Deschutes 100-mile Wild & Scenic reach 2026 — Oregon Fishing Regulations

Oregon statewide rules apply unless overridden below.

Last updated June 4, 2026

Deschutes River Lower Deschutes 100-mile Wild & Scenic reach carries 2 special-regulation overlays on top of Oregon's 2026 fishing rules — covering Steelhead (anadromous rainbow trout). Verify the agency booklet before launching: in-season changes are not yet wired to this page.

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Watch Deschutes River Lower Deschutes 100-mile Wild & Scenic reach (OR) and we'll email you when a season, bag limit, slot, or closure changes. Free while in beta.

State-level special regulation

Country's premier high-desert summer steelhead + native redband rainbow trout fishery; ODFW-distinctive Lower Deschutes River Boater's Pass $9 res/NR + Warm Springs Tribal Permit required for tribal-water reaches; native redband rainbow 2 / day with 10-13 in slot + only 1 fish over 20 in / day Quality Management; summer steelhead 1 / day adult under Combined Angling Tag; barbless single-hook + artificial-fly-and-lure only
Source: Oregon special-water list

Per-species rules on Deschutes River Lower Deschutes 100-mile Wild & Scenic reach

Steelhead (anadromous rainbow trout) regulations →
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

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 Deschutes River Lower Deschutes 100-mile Wild & Scenic reach?: Deschutes River Lower Deschutes 100-mile Wild & Scenic reach carries 2 special-regulation overlays that override Oregon's statewide 2026 rules, covering Steelhead (anadromous rainbow trout). One of them reads: "Country's premier high-desert summer steelhead + native redband rainbow trout fishery; ODFW-distinctive Lower Deschutes River Boater's Pass $9 res/NR + Warm Springs Tribal Permit required for tribal-water reaches; native redband rainbow 2 / day with 10-13 in slot + only 1 fish over 20 in / day Quality Management; summer steelhead 1 / day adult under Combined Angling Tag; barbless single-hook + artificial-fly-and-lure only." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.
Do I need a fishing license to fish Deschutes River Lower Deschutes 100-mile Wild & Scenic reach?: Yes. Deschutes River Lower Deschutes 100-mile Wild & Scenic reach 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 Lower Deschutes River; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Oregon rules.
Do Deschutes River Lower Deschutes 100-mile Wild & Scenic reach's special rules replace Oregon's statewide limits?: Only where they conflict. Oregon's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Lower Deschutes River 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 Lower Deschutes River?: Steelhead (anadromous rainbow trout) has a water-body-specific rule on Deschutes River Lower Deschutes 100-mile Wild & Scenic reach, each linking to its full Oregon regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Oregon limits.

← Back to Oregon regulations overview