2026 regulation year
Donner und Blitzen River (Steens Mountain Redband Reserve) 2026 — Oregon Fishing Regulations
Oregon statewide rules apply unless overridden below.
Last updated
Donner und Blitzen River (Steens Mountain Redband Reserve) carries a special-regulation overlay on top of Oregon's 2026 fishing rules. Verify the agency booklet before launching: in-season changes are not yet wired to this page.
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State-level special regulation
Designated Redband Trout Reserve on Steens Mountain (mainstem + East Canal + tributaries above Page Springs): artificial flies and lures only year-round; 2 trout / day, 8 in min; no limit on brook or brown trout; ODFW strongly encourages catch-and-release on the wild redband. Boats prohibited; 200-ft buffer at fish passageways.
Source: Oregon special-water list
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
Frequently asked questions
- What special fishing regulations apply at Donner und Blitzen River (Steens Mountain Redband Reserve)?
- Donner und Blitzen River (Steens Mountain Redband Reserve) carries one special-regulation overlay that overrides Oregon's statewide 2026 rules. It reads: "Designated Redband Trout Reserve on Steens Mountain (mainstem + East Canal + tributaries above Page Springs): artificial flies and lures only year-round; 2 trout / day, 8 in min; no limit on brook or brown trout; ODFW strongly encourages catch-and-release on the wild redband. Boats prohibited; 200-ft buffer at fish passageways." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.
- Do I need a fishing license to fish Donner und Blitzen River (Steens Mountain Redband Reserve)?
- Yes. Donner und Blitzen River (Steens Mountain Redband Reserve) 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 Donner und Blitzen River; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Oregon rules.
- Do Donner und Blitzen River (Steens Mountain Redband Reserve)'s special rules replace Oregon's statewide limits?
- Only where they conflict. Oregon's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Donner und Blitzen River by default; the overlays above replace the matching statewide rule 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.