Steelhead fishing will close on the John Day River starting September 1 to protect wild upriver summer steelhead migration, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife announced. The closure, which is expected to remain through at least December 31, 2026 and likely continue into the new year, extends from the mainline railroad bridge at the confluence with the Columbia River upstream through all sections, including both the North and Middle Forks of the John Day River and all tributaries.
The closure follows the state's John Day River Steelhead Framework, developed in 2021 after record low steelhead returns forced closures on the John Day, Deschutes and other rivers for the first time in decades. The framework uses specific benchmarks to determine when fishing restrictions are necessary, including wild fish counts at Bonneville Dam and estimated smolt-to-adult return ratios.
Only about 15,000 wild steelhead passed Bonneville Dam from July 1 to August 23, falling short of the 20,000 minimum count necessary to keep the recreational fishery open, according to ODFW. Additionally, tagged adult returns suggest the smolt-to-adult ratio will fall below 1 percent.
Poor returns of upriver summer steelhead—fish destined for areas upstream of Bonneville Dam including the Snake River Basin—have persisted for over a decade, ODFW said. These fish must navigate as many as eight dams to reach their spawning grounds. The agency also cited current drought conditions causing lower and warmer water in streams critical for migratory salmon and steelhead.