Columbia River

OR Using devices to land fish

It is unlawful to use gurdies, winches or reels affixed to a boat to land a fish.

OR Use of drones and radios

It is unlawful to use drones/ radio controlled boats/ or other unmanned vehicles when angling or to aid in angling.

OR Snagging

It is unlawful to snag or attempt to snag gamefish.Additional anti-snagging gear restrictions:Fishing gear restricted to artificial fly, lure, or bait with one single-point hook.Unless otherwise specified, hook must measure 3/4 inch or less at the gap.Hook must be attached to or below any lure or bait.Weight cannot be less than 18 inches above the lure or bait.Consult exceptions to zone regulations for which leader length applies:Leader length: 18-36 inches or less than or equal to 6 feet

OR Use of More than One Rod or Line

It is unlawful to use more than one rod or line when angling except:with a Two-Rod Validation as a youth anglers (under 12 years of age) when angling outside of three miles from shore for offshore pelagic species, any number of rods or lines are allowed only if no species other than offshore pelagic species have been retained.

OR Ice hole size

Angling through a human-made ice hole larger than 12 inches in diameter or length is unlawful.

OR Use of chum

Taking or attempting to take any fish by chumming, or knowingly angle with the aid of chum is unlawful except when angling for offshore pelagic species outside of three miles from shore if no species other than offshore pelagic species have been retained.

OR Buying or selling fish and fish parts

Buying or selling fish or shellfish, or parts thereof, that were caught or taken for personal use. Except the skeletal remains of ocean food fish may be sold; and eggs from ocean-caught salmon may be sold to a licensed fish or bait dealer.

OR Fish with radio tags

It is unlawful to take a fish with a radio tag (identified by an antenna trailing from its mouth or body) except in the mainstem Columbia River and its tributaries, when consistent with all other applicable laws and regulations.

OR Fishways weirs and fish traps

It is unlawful to trespass on a fishway, weir or fish trap, or angle within 200 feet above and 200 feet below a weir or the entrance/exit of a private or public fishway or fish trap.

OR Transport of live fish and egs

Bringing live fish or live eggs into the state, transporting them overland, or from one waterbody to another without a permit from ODFW is unlawful.

OR Salmon and Steelhead Bobber Rules

When fishing for salmon and steelhead fishing gear restricted to artificial fly, lure, or bait with one single-point hook. Salmon/steelhead bobber angling gear mustinclude a bobber and leader no longer than36 inches. Any weight is to be no more than 36 inchesfrom the hook when suspended vertically. The bobber must suspend the weight, leader, and terminal gear, not allowing it to rest on the river bottom.

OR Bait Restriction

The following may NOT be used as bait:• Live fish. Except live nongame fish maybe used in the ocean, bays and tidewaters when taken from the same waters in which they will be used as bait.• Goldfish. Nor can they be in an angler's possession while angling.• Lamprey.• Live crayfish.• Live leeches. Nor can they be in an angler'spossession while angling.

OR 3 Hook Maximum

No more than three hooks may be used when angling, except herring jigs may be used for marine food fish species.• A double or treble point hook is classified asone hook.• When angling with two rods (whereallowed and with a Two-Rod Validation), the general hook rule applies to each rod.

OR Salmon, Steelhead, Halibut, Sturgeon Hooks

Salmon, Steelhead, Halibut and SturgeonPacific halibut: no more than two hooks may be used.Sturgeon:no more than one single point barbless hook may be used.Ocean salmon: no more than two single point barbless hooks when angling for salmon in the ocean, or when angling for other ocean species with salmon or steelhead onboard.Salmon/Steelhead (except ocean): Single-point hooks larger than 1inch gap and multiple point hooks larger than 9/16 inch gap are prohibited. All weight, if not part of conventional lure, must be attached on the fishing line between the lure and the end of the rod. With hooks larger than 5/8 inch gap or multiple point hook, weight must be attached 18 inches or more above the uppermost hook.

OR Daylight Hours

It is unlawful to angle for or take salmon, shad, steelhead, sturgeon, trout or whitefish except during daylight hours (one hour before sunrise until one hour after sunset). Unless there is an exception for specific waterbodies.

OR Game Fish Unlawful Methods

It is unlawful to take game fish other than those hooked inside the mouth. It is unlawful to: snag, spear, gaff, net, trap, club, shoot or ensnare any freshwater game fish. A hand-held landing net may be used to land a legally hooked fish. A gaff may not be used to land salmon, steelhead or other freshwater game fish in inland or ocean fisheries.

OR Removal of eggs

It is unlawful to remove eggs from any salmon, steelhead or sturgeon without retaining the carcass while in the field.

OR Field dressing of mutilating

It is unlawful to possess game fish in the field that have been dressed or mutilated so that size, species or fin clip cannot be determined. Fish may be dressed when the angler has reached their automobile (or principle means of land transportation) and has finished angling for the day.

OR Angling Tag in Possession

All anglers need a valid Combined Angling Tag (authorizing harvest of 20 salmon or steelhead per year) in possession to angle for salmon, steelhead, sturgeon and halibut.Harvested adult wild salmon or steelhead must be immediately recorded on the Combined Angling Tag.

OR Using devices to land fish

It is unlawful to use gurdies, winches or reels affixed to a boat to land a fish.

OR Use of drones and radios

It is unlawful to use drones/ radio controlled boats/ or other unmanned vehicles when angling or to aid in angling.

OR Snagging

It is unlawful to snag or attempt to snag gamefish.Additional anti-snagging gear restrictions:Fishing gear restricted to artificial fly, lure, or bait with one single-point hook.Unless otherwise specified, hook must measure 3/4 inch or less at the gap.Hook must be attached to or below any lure or bait.Weight cannot be less than 18 inches above the lure or bait.Consult exceptions to zone regulations for which leader length applies:Leader length: 18-36 inches or less than or equal to 6 feet

OR Unlawful Taking & Retention

It is unlawful to fish for or take and retain any legal species while possessing on board any species not allowed to be taken in that area at that time.

OR Use of More than One Rod or Line

It is unlawful to use more than one rod or line when angling except:with a Two-Rod Validation as a youth anglers (under 12 years of age) when angling outside of three miles from shore for offshore pelagic species, any number of rods or lines are allowed only if no species other than offshore pelagic species have been retained.

OR Ice hole size

Angling through a human-made ice hole larger than 12 inches in diameter or length is unlawful.

OR Use of chum

Taking or attempting to take any fish by chumming, or knowingly angle with the aid of chum is unlawful except when angling for offshore pelagic species outside of three miles from shore if no species other than offshore pelagic species have been retained.

OR Buying or selling fish and fish parts

Buying or selling fish or shellfish, or parts thereof, that were caught or taken for personal use. Except the skeletal remains of ocean food fish may be sold; and eggs from ocean-caught salmon may be sold to a licensed fish or bait dealer.

OR Fish with radio tags

It is unlawful to take a fish with a radio tag (identified by an antenna trailing from its mouth or body) except in the mainstem Columbia River and its tributaries, when consistent with all other applicable laws and regulations.

OR Fishways weirs and fish traps

It is unlawful to trespass on a fishway, weir or fish trap, or angle within 200 feet above and 200 feet below a weir or the entrance/exit of a private or public fishway or fish trap.

OR Transport of live fish and egs

Bringing live fish or live eggs into the state, transporting them overland, or from one waterbody to another without a permit from ODFW is unlawful.

OR Salmon and Steelhead Bobber Rules

When fishing for salmon and steelhead fishing gear restricted to artificial fly, lure, or bait with one single-point hook. Salmon/steelhead bobber angling gear mustinclude a bobber and leader no longer than36 inches. Any weight is to be no more than 36 inchesfrom the hook when suspended vertically. The bobber must suspend the weight, leader, and terminal gear, not allowing it to rest on the river bottom.

OR Bait Restriction

The following may NOT be used as bait:• Live fish. Except live nongame fish maybe used in the ocean, bays and tidewaters when taken from the same waters in which they will be used as bait.• Goldfish. Nor can they be in an angler's possession while angling.• Lamprey.• Live crayfish.• Live leeches. Nor can they be in an angler'spossession while angling.

OR 3 Hook Maximum

No more than three hooks may be used when angling, except herring jigs may be used for marine food fish species.• A double or treble point hook is classified asone hook.• When angling with two rods (whereallowed and with a Two-Rod Validation), the general hook rule applies to each rod.

OR Salmon, Steelhead, Halibut, Sturgeon Hooks

Salmon, Steelhead, Halibut and SturgeonPacific halibut: no more than two hooks may be used.Sturgeon:no more than one single point barbless hook may be used.Ocean salmon: no more than two single point barbless hooks when angling for salmon in the ocean, or when angling for other ocean species with salmon or steelhead onboard.Salmon/Steelhead (except ocean): Single-point hooks larger than 1inch gap and multiple point hooks larger than 9/16 inch gap are prohibited. All weight, if not part of conventional lure, must be attached on the fishing line between the lure and the end of the rod. With hooks larger than 5/8 inch gap or multiple point hook, weight must be attached 18 inches or more above the uppermost hook.

OR Daylight Hours

It is unlawful to angle for or take salmon, shad, steelhead, sturgeon, trout or whitefish except during daylight hours (one hour before sunrise until one hour after sunset). Unless there is an exception for specific waterbodies.

OR Game Fish Unlawful Methods

It is unlawful to take game fish other than those hooked inside the mouth. It is unlawful to: snag, spear, gaff, net, trap, club, shoot or ensnare any freshwater game fish. A hand-held landing net may be used to land a legally hooked fish. A gaff may not be used to land salmon, steelhead or other freshwater game fish in inland or ocean fisheries.

OR Removal of eggs

It is unlawful to remove eggs from any salmon, steelhead or sturgeon without retaining the carcass while in the field.

OR Field dressing of mutilating

It is unlawful to possess game fish in the field that have been dressed or mutilated so that size, species or fin clip cannot be determined. Fish may be dressed when the angler has reached their automobile (or principle means of land transportation) and has finished angling for the day.

OR Dip Net, Cast Net, Angling, Herring Jigs ONLY

May only be taken by dip net, cast net, angling and herring jigs. 

OR Angling with Single Line or Spear

May be taken by angling with a single line, no more than 2 hooks; and by spear.

OR Angling Tag in Possession

All anglers need a valid Combined Angling Tag (authorizing harvest of 20 salmon or steelhead per year) in possession to angle for salmon, steelhead, sturgeon and halibut.Harvested adult wild salmon or steelhead must be immediately recorded on the Combined Angling Tag.