Fishing in Hood River County, Oregon
County seat: Hood River. Population 23,977.
- 9lake pages
- 17open launches
- 2river pages
Pick for troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo of Deschutes River: Bureau of Land Management Oregon and Washington, CC BY 2.0
The short version of fishing in Hood River County
At the 2020 count Hood River County held 23,977 residents, and its courthouse is in Hood River. Most waters ODFW lists in Hood River County fall under the ODFW Central Zone table, though zone lines follow drainages rather than county lines. Lake Bonneville crosses a state line, so only part of its outline is Oregon water.
The largest of 9 paged lakes in Hood River County is Lake Bonneville. The OSMB access layer lists 17 open launches here, 4 for trailer launching.
Census 2020 population; BLM Oregon NHD lake outlines; OSMB Boating Access Sites; DLCD and ODFW shore access layers; 2026 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations zone lists; read November 2, 2026.
Where the put-ins of Hood River County are
OSMB launch points, DLCD and ODFW shore sites, NHD lake points, PMEP estuary points; read November 2, 2026.
Still water across Hood River County
| Lake | Acres | Kind | OSMB launches | Fish mapped |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Bonneville | 19,452 (outline), 54% in Oregon | lake | 18 | channel catfish |
| Lost Lake (Hood River County) | 253 (outline) | lake | 2 | brook trout, rainbow trout |
| Laurance Lake | 97 (outline) | lake | 2 | rainbow trout, steelhead, largemouth bass |
| Wahtum Lake | 65 (outline) | lake | 1 | brook trout |
| Green Point Upper Reservoir | 47 (outline) | reservoir | 1 | rainbow trout |
| Badger Lake | 46 (outline) | lake | 1 | brook trout, rainbow trout |
| Green Point Lower Reservoir | 16 (outline) | reservoir | 1 | |
| Boulder Lake (Wasco County) | 14 (outline) | lake | 1 | |
| Rainy Lake | 8 (outline) | lake | 1 | brook trout |
BLM Oregon hydrography lake outlines (NHD), summed by GNIS name (layer), read November 2, 2026. Species: ODFW Fish Habitat Distribution layers (ODFW ArcGIS), read November 2, 2026; a mapped species is habitat use ODFW records, not a catch report. ODFW publishes no lake depths in these layers.
For the trout herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 Species on the water pages near Hood River County
Within 40 miles of Hood River the most-listed fish is rainbow trout.
Species from ODFW Fish Habitat Distribution layers, booklet exceptions and ODFW records, counted per water page within 40 miles; habitat mapping, not a catch survey.
Further lakes on the Hood River County outline map
The outline map shows 7 further named lakes in Hood River County, listed by mapped acreage.
| Water | Acres (outline) | Nearest place |
|---|---|---|
| Lindsey Pond | 39 | Cascade Locks |
| North Lake | 8 | Cascade Locks |
| Black Lake | 7 | Cascade Locks |
| Jean Lake | 5 | Mount Hood Villages |
| Warren Lake | 5 | Cascade Locks |
| Bear Lake | 3 | Cascade Locks |
| Scout Lake | 2 | Cascade Locks |
BLM Oregon hydrography lake outlines (NHD), summed by GNIS name (layer), read November 2, 2026.
Moving water in Hood River County
- Hood RiverODFW maps coho, fall chinook and spring chinook runs, 1 USGS gauge, 8 booklet exceptions
- West Fork Hood RiverODFW maps coho, fall chinook and spring chinook runs, 1 USGS gauge
Rivers of Hood River County still without a page (3)
- Dog RiverODFW maps coho, fall chinook and spring chinook runs
- East Fork Hood RiverODFW maps coho, fall chinook and spring chinook runs
- Middle Fork Hood RiverODFW maps coho, spring chinook and summer steelhead runs
How fast the rivers of Hood River County are running
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Hood River At Tucker Bridge, Near Hood River, Or | 305 cfs, 2.71 ft gage height | Nov 13 12:30 am |
| West Fork Hood River Near Dee, Or | 103 cfs, 2.30 ft gage height | Oct 1 2:40 am Not updated since Oct 1, 1991. |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 13, 2026 1:33 am ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
ODFW Fish Habitat Distribution stream names and runs, OSMB launches, booklet exceptions and USGS gauges; read November 2, 2026.
Launch sites across Hood River County
- Boulder Lake Campground launchBoulder Lake, hand carry launch
- Event Site launch on Lake BonnevilleLake Bonneville, hand carry launch
- Jensen Beach launch on Lake BonnevilleLake Bonneville, hand carry launch
- Kingsley Campground boat ramp on Green Point Upper ReservoirGreen Point Upper Reservoir, 1 lane, trailered launch
- Kinnikinnick Campground launch on Laurance LakeLaurance Lake, 1 lane, hand carry launch
- Kinnikinnick Day Use boat ramp on Laurance LakeLaurance Lake, trailered launch
- Lower Kingsley Access on Green Point Lower ReservoirGreen Point Lower Reservoir, 1 lane, hand carry launch
- Nichols Basin Blackwater Beach launch on Lake BonnevilleLake Bonneville, 1 lane, hand carry launch
- Port of Cascade Locks Marina on Lake BonnevilleLake Bonneville, hand carry launch
- Port of Cascade Locks Ramp on Lake BonnevilleLake Bonneville, 2 lanes, trailered launch
- Port of Hood River Ramp on Lake BonnevilleLake Bonneville, 2 lanes, trailered launch
- Rock Creek launch on Lake BonnevilleLake Bonneville, hand carry launch
- The Hook launch on Lake BonnevilleLake Bonneville, hand carry launch
- The Spit launch on Lake BonnevilleLake Bonneville, 1 lane, hand carry launch
- Viento State Park Hand Launch on Lake BonnevilleLake Bonneville, hand carry launch
- Wahtum Lake Campground launchWahtum Lake, hand carry launch
- Waterfront Park on Lake BonnevilleLake Bonneville, hand carry launch
- Badger Lake Campground launchBadger Lake, closed per OSMB
- Lost Lake Boat RampLost Lake, closed per OSMB
- Lost Lake Resort launchLost Lake, closed per OSMB
- Rainy Lake Campground launchRainy Lake, closed per OSMB
Status comes straight from OSMB, and closed launches are rows only.
Oregon State Marine Board Boating Access Sites layer (OSMB ArcGIS), read November 2, 2026; status as OSMB publishes it. Oregon Coastal Management Program (DLCD) Shoreline Access Inventory (layer) and the ODFW shore access map, read November 2, 2026.
Trout stocking in Hood River County
The ODFW schedule plans 2 trout releases for 1 water in Hood River County, 4,000 fish in all as printed.
- Laurance Lake2 releases planned, next listed: May. 03, 2027 – May. 07, 2027: 2,000 legal-size trout
ODFW weekly trout stocking schedule (planned releases; ODFW prints size classes, not species), myodfw.com, read November 2, 2026.
Bag rows for a day in Hood River County
Waters in Hood River County without an exception of their own follow the zone rows below. Oregon residents pay $50 for the annual angling license, visitors $138. Add the Combined Angling Tag, $69 resident, before keeping salmon or steelhead.
| Species | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Trout | Lakes: 5 per day, 3 daily limits in possession. Streams: 2 per day, 3 daily limits in possession; 8-inch minimum | Lakes: Open all year. Streams: Open May 22 – Oct 31, unless noted under Exceptions. |
| Kokanee | 10 per day unless noted under Exceptions. | Open all year. |
| Salmon and Steelhead | In the aggregate: 2 adult salmon or steelhead per day, 20 per year. 5 jack salmon per day, 2 daily jack limits in possession, with the exception that one additional hatchery steelhead may be retained per day for a total. | Closed in all waters unless noted by species under Exceptions. |
| Sturgeon | Catch-and-release only. | Lakes: Open all year. Streams: Open during trout, salmon or steelhead seasons. |
| Bass | Lakes: 5 per day, 3 daily limits in possession unless noted under Exceptions. Streams: No limit. | Lakes: Open all year. Streams: Open during trout, salmon or steelhead seasons only, except portions of Columbia River tributaries flooded by Bonneville and The. |
| Bluegill, Catfish, Crappie, Other Sunfish, Walleye, Yellow Perch, Whit. | No limit. | Lakes: Open all year. Streams: Open during trout, salmon or steelhead seasons only, except portions of Columbia River tributaries flooded by Bonneville and The. |
Booklet rows naming Hood River County waters (14)
| Water | Species | Rule | Booklet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hood River, Mainstem | trout | Catch-and-release for trout. | p. 53 |
| Hood River, Mainstem | chinook, salmon | Open for hatchery Chinook salmon from Apr 15 – Jun 30. Daily limit is 1 adult hatchery spring Chinook salmon per day. | p. 53 |
| Hood River, Mainstem | hatchery steelhead, coho, salmon | Open all year for hatchery coho salmon and hatchery steelhead. | p. 53 |
| Hood River, Mainstem | steelhead, salmon | Use of bait allowed for salmon and steelhead. | p. 53 |
| Hood River, Mainstem | trout | Catch-and-release for trout. | p. 53 |
| Hood River, East Fork, Middle Fork, and Tributaries not listed | trout | Catch-and-release for trout. | p. 54 |
| Hood River, West Fork and Tributaries (Confluence with East Fork upstream to angling deadline 200 ft downstream Punchbowl Falls) | Mainstem Hood River regulations apply. | p. 54 | |
| Hood River, West Fork and Tributaries (Upstream of angling deadline 200 ft below Punchbowl Falls) | Closed. | p. 54 | |
| Laurance Lake | Open Apr 22 – Oct 31. | p. 54 | |
| Laurance Lake | trout | Wild trout must be released. | p. 54 |
| Laurance Lake | bass | No limit on size or number of bass. | p. 54 |
| Laurance Lake | Artificial flies and lures only. | p. 54 | |
| Laurance Lake | Closed between ODFW markers and the mouth of Clear Branch Creek. | p. 54 | |
| Laurance Lake | Closed between ODFW markers and the mouth of Pinnacle Creek. | p. 54 |
Limits as printed in the 2026 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations (ODFW, eRegulations edition) (Central Zone page), read November 2, 2026. Water exceptions as printed in the 2026 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations (ODFW, eRegulations edition) (booklet PDF; printed page shown), read November 2, 2026. In-season changes from ODFW override them. Fees as printed on the ODFW license, tag and permit fee page of the 2026 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations (ODFW, eRegulations edition) (fees page), read November 2, 2026.
Record weights from Hood River County waters
Records closest to Hood River County came from the waters below.
| Species | Weight | Water | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brook Trout | 9 lb 6 oz | Deschutes River | 1980 |
| Mountain Whitefish | 5 lb 12 oz | Deschutes River | 2021 |
| Shad | 6 lb 6 oz | Willamette River | 2004 |
| Pumpkinseed Sunfish | 0 lb 7.68 oz | Lake Oswego | 1996 |
Oregon record fish as listed by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (record fish article, dated March 4, 2026), read November 2, 2026.
Derbies and weigh-ins in Hood River County
Derby and tournament organizers list 1 event in Hood River County, 0 not yet held.
| Date | Event | Water | Organizer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct. 3, 2026 | KFNW Kayak Bass Classic 2026 (Columbia River, Bonneville Pool) | Columbia River | Kayak Fishing Northwest |
Organizer schedule and results pages (ODFW publishes no tournament calendar), checked November 2026.
Bait counters around Hood River County
Bait counters of Hood River County
- Big Y Fly Cobait and tackle shop, Hood River
- Big Y Fly Companybait and tackle shop, Hood River
- Gorge Fly Shopfly shop, Hood River
- Larimer Outfittersbait and tackle shop, Hood River
- Bi-Mart (Hood River)sporting goods store, Hood River
- Port of Hood River Toll Housemarina, Hood River
Captains based in Hood River County
- Big Fish Guide Servicecharter, Hood River, (813) 973-8384
Yellow Pages and store-locator listings, guide and charter business listings (county of the business), read November 2, 2026.
Around Hood River County
Communities around Hood River County
- Hood Riverpop. 8,313
- Cascade Lockspop. 1,379
Counties touching Hood River County
- Wasco County34 miles southeast
- Clackamas County36 miles southwest
- Multnomah County37 miles west
- Sherman County48 miles east
Piscifun gear an angler could carry out to Hood River County
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
The look of the water close to Hood River County
Photo: Bureau of Land Management Oregon and Washington, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Bonnie Moreland, Public domain
Photo: Oregon Department of Transportation, CC BY 2.0
Photo: mk97007, CC BY 2.0
Short answers on fishing Hood River County
Where can I put a boat in around Hood River County?
There are 17 open launches, 4 with a trailer ramp.
Which Hood River County lake spreads over the most mapped acres?
Lake Bonneville, about 19,452 acres on its mapped outline.
What fish show up most near Hood River County?
Rainbow trout lead the count of water pages within 40 miles, then steelhead, brook trout and chinook salmon.
Which Hood River County stores carry fishing gear?
6 listed, including Big Y Fly Co.
Are there charter or guide listings in Hood River County?
1 guide or charter name this county.
In which town does Hood River County hold court?
Hood River is the seat.
What does ODFW charge to fish in Hood River County?
Annual angling runs $50 for residents of Oregon and $138 for everyone else in 2026. Retained salmonids, sturgeon and halibut are logged on the $69 resident Combined Angling Tag.
Which counties border Hood River County?
Wasco County, Clackamas County and Multnomah County lie closest.
Which regulation zone fits Hood River County?
ODFW files most of the Hood River County waters it names under the ODFW Central Zone rows, with drainages, not county lines, setting the edges.
When is the next event on Hood River County water?
1 event on file from organizer pages, none ahead yet.
Does the booklet set exceptions in Hood River County?
The 2026 booklet prints 14 water exceptions reaching this county, starting with Hood River, Mainstem; the table above shows each.
Which Hood River County waters get hatchery trout?
Yes: 1 water on the ODFW schedule, such as Laurance Lake; releases are planned, not confirmed.
Give Hood River County a weekend of fishing
Launch pages give lanes, amenities and directions.