Best Fishing Spots in Oregon

Oregon sits in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States and is one of the richest fishing destinations in the country. It offers anglers access to more than 300 miles of coastline opening up to the great Pacific Ocean and has several rivers, lakes, and reservoirs that are as productive as they are beautiful. 

Picking just a handful of wonderful Oregon fishing spots is challenging as the state offers quite a few. It has excellent locations for salmon fishing, fly fishing, and more. One thing’s for sure, though: no matter where you go or what time of the year you visit, you’ll always find fish biting. So choosing a spot to fish is a matter of deciding what fish species you’re keen to bag. 

Booking a fishing trip to the Pacific Northwest? Below are some of the best fishing spots in Oregon and which fish species you can expect to find in each water body.

1. Columbia River

The Columbia River is the biggest on the west coast, so it's no surprise that it has some of the most productive fishing you can do in Oregon. It is best known for its legendary salmon and steelhead fishing. It has one of the biggest chinook and coho salmon runs in this part of the state. Anglers can also experience some excellent white sturgeon fishing in its water. Apart from these giants, the river also has beautiful carp fishing, which anglers should not overlook. They’re quite a challenge to fish, so bring your A-game when hunting for them in the structure and flats of the river shoreline.

2. Diamond Lake

This natural lake in Southern Oregon has more than 3,000 acres of water and 9 miles of shoreline, giving anglers plenty of fishing access deep within a stunning coniferous forest. It is often considered one of the best rainbow trout lakes in the state. The rainbow trout here can reach trophy status around summer, offering up some of the most productive fishing in early June. Anglers can find brown trout and tiger trout in the lake as well.

3. McKenzie River

The McKenzie River is a perfect water body where anglers can catch abundant trout, king salmon, and steelhead. Fly anglers can visit the river all year round and expect to catch some wild rainbow trout on a catch-and-release basis. If you’re eager to get some table fare, bank fishing on the river for some stocked trout will be your best bet. Come springtime, you can try catching chinook salmon, but if you don’t make it quite in time of the season, you can catch some steelhead via fly fishing instead.

4. Wallowa Lake

Deep in the Wallow Mountains in the county of the same name, Wallowa Lake is the perfect spot if you’re looking for a beautifully secluded hideaway with plenty of fishing. The lake does not freeze over, so you can fish here all year round. It has stocked wild rainbow and brook trout, kokanee salmon, and some smallmouth bass. 

5. Henry Hagg Lake

If you’re looking for a great fishing spot near the Portland region, you can find Henry Hagg Lake, southwest of Forest Grove. Besides its rich rainbow trout fishing, it also has bullhead catfish and plenty of yellow perch, bluegill, and crappie. In recent years, it has become more popular among bass anglers in the Pacific Northwest as it continues to produce record-breaking smallmouth bass since the 90s. It also has plenty of largemouth bass.

6. Upper Klamath Lake

Fly anglers love Upper Klamath Lake because of its trophy fisheries. While it has fallen victim to algae blooms and harsh summers, it continues to produce giant rainbows alongside healthy brown bullhead and yellow perch populations.

7. Agency Lake

Agency Lake is often considered a part of Upper Klamath Lake, though it is well worth mentioning on its own as a fishing spot. It’s a beginner-friendly lake with 9,000 acres and over 20 miles of shoreline. It’s endlessly navigable — you can shoreline fish here or go out on your kayak or canoe. What makes it great for beginners is that it’s home to panfish like sunfish, bluegill, and white bass, which are relatively easy to catch and make for some excellent table fare, too.

8. Tenmile Lakes

The Tenmile Lakes is a unique water body that offers fishing for warm water species, trout, and even wild coho. It is considered the top largemouth bass spot on the Oregon coast and has plenty of bullhead catfish, yellow perch, and crappie. In late fall, coho salmon will be heading towards the main tributaries. Stocked rainbow trout and wild cutthroat trout can be found here, despite being a warm water area.

Tenmile Lakes are two lakes connected by a narrow channel. While it does not offer a ton of bank fishing access, it has ADA access available for anglers who need it and several boat access areas.