2026 regulation year
Metolius River 2026 — Oregon Fishing Regulations
Oregon statewide rules apply unless overridden below.
Last updated
Metolius River 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
Bull trout 0 / day catch-and-release-only on Metolius + listed Cascade conservation reaches (federally Threatened ESA — ODFW + USFWS joint recovery program); rainbow trout 2 / day with 16 in min Quality Management + artificial-fly-and-lure only + barbless single-hook required
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 Metolius River?
- Metolius River carries one special-regulation overlay that overrides Oregon's statewide 2026 rules. It reads: "Bull trout 0 / day catch-and-release-only on Metolius + listed Cascade conservation reaches (federally Threatened ESA — ODFW + USFWS joint recovery program); rainbow trout 2 / day with 16 in min Quality Management + artificial-fly-and-lure only + barbless single-hook required." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.
- Do I need a fishing license to fish Metolius River?
- Yes. Metolius River 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 Metolius River; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Oregon rules.
- Do Metolius River's special rules replace Oregon's statewide limits?
- Only where they conflict. Oregon's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Metolius 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.