Census 2020 placed 128,610 people in Linn County, governed from Albany. In the booklet, the bulk of Linn County waters sit in the ODFW Willamette Zone pages, since zones track watersheds.
Detroit Lake leads the 13 paged lakes reaching into Linn County by outline acreage. OSMB maps 39 open launches here, 26 of them built for trailered boats.
13lake pages
39open OSMB launches
5river pages
9shops
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.
Map
Launches, lakes and shore spots of Linn County on one map
OSMB launch points, DLCD and ODFW shore sites, NHD lake points, PMEP estuary points; read November 2, 2026.
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.
Each bar counts the lake, river and bay pages within 40 miles of Albany that list the fish; rainbow trout shows up most.
Rainbow trout17 waters
Cutthroat trout16 waters
Largemouth bass15 waters
Chinook salmon11 waters
Steelhead10 waters
Bluegill9 waters
Brown bullhead8 waters
Smallmouth bass8 waters
Mountain whitefish7 waters
Coho salmon5 waters
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.
More water
Lakes of Linn County listed here only
58 smaller lakes in Linn County are listed here only.
Water
Acres (outline)
Nearest place
Marion Lake
352
Sisters
Lava Lake
131
Sisters
Fish Lake (Linn County)
118
Sisters
Snow Peak Log Pond
61
Lebanon
Fisher Island Pond
57
Corvallis
Mowich Lake
53
Sisters
Pamelia Lake
53
Sisters
Willamette Log Pond
52
Sweet Home
Second Lake
50
Millersburg
Western Log Pond
42
Lebanon
Jorn Lake
31
Sisters
Duffy Lake
26
Sisters
Colorado Lake
24
Corvallis
Nan-Scott Lake
21
Mill City
Indian Prairie Lake
19
Mill City
Patjens Lakes
17
Sisters
Wilson Lake
17
Millersburg
Santiam Lake
16
Sisters
Helms Reservoir
15
Jefferson
Schneider Log Pond
15
Brownsville
Rainbow Lake
15
Mill City
Gordon Lakes
12
Sweet Home
Daly Lake
11
Mill City
Swan Lakes
11
Albany
Robinson Lake
11
Sisters
Teto Lake
10
Sisters
Blue Lake (Linn County)
10
Sisters
First Lake
10
Albany
Heart Lake
9
Sisters
Turpentine Lake
8
Sisters
Temple Lake
8
Sisters
Fay Lake
8
Sisters
Fir Lake
8
Sisters
Tule Lake
7
Mill City
Parish Lake
7
Mill City
Hunts Lake
7
Sisters
Hanks Lake
7
Sisters
Lower Berley Lake
7
Sisters
Upper Berley Lake
6
Sisters
Bowerman Lake
6
Sisters
Pine Ridge Lake
6
Sisters
Kuitan Lake
5
Sisters
Prill Lake
5
Sisters
Lake of the Woods
5
Sisters
Pinet Lake
4
Sisters
Red Butte Lake
4
Sisters
Melis Lake
4
Sisters
Alforja Lake
4
Sisters
Widgeon Lake
3
Sisters
Chiquito Lake
3
Sisters
Riggs Lake
3
Mill City
North Dixie Lake
2
Sisters
Presley Lake
2
Sisters
Pika Lake
2
Sisters
Jo Jo Lake
2
Mill City
Don Lake
2
Mill City
Cincha Lake
1
Sisters
Little Cincha Lake
1
Sisters
BLM Oregon hydrography lake outlines (NHD), summed by GNIS name (layer), read November 2, 2026.
Rivers
River guides for Linn County
Calapooia RiverODFW maps spring chinook and winter steelhead runs, 1 OSMB launch, 1 USGS gauge
North Santiam RiverODFW maps coho, fall chinook and spring chinook runs, 12 OSMB launches, 4 USGS gauges
South Santiam RiverODFW maps fall chinook, spring chinook and summer steelhead runs, 7 OSMB launches, 5 USGS gauges
Middle Santiam RiverODFW maps spring chinook and winter steelhead runs, 1 USGS gauge
Smith River8 OSMB launches, 2 USGS gauges, 20 booklet exceptions
More river names in Linn County (4)
Dead Riverstream
Little Willamette Riverstream
North Fork Calapooia RiverODFW maps winter steelhead runs
Carmen Reservoir RampCarmen Reservoir, closed per OSMB
Cheadle Lake boat rampCheadle Lake, closed per OSMB
Cold Water Cove Boat Slide boat ramp on Clear LakeClear Lake, closed per OSMB
Cove Creek Campground boat ramp on Detroit LakeDetroit Lake, closed per OSMB
Hoover Campground boat ramp on Detroit LakeDetroit Lake, closed per OSMB
Southshore Day Use Area boat ramp on Detroit LakeDetroit Lake, closed per OSMB
Launches marked closed on the OSMB layer get no page; restricted ones carry the OSMB note on theirs.
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.
Stocking
Planned trout plants across Linn County
ODFW lists 82 planned plants across 4 waters of Linn County, adding up to 129,880 trout.
ODFW weekly trout stocking schedule (planned releases; ODFW prints size classes, not species), myodfw.com, read November 2, 2026.
Regulations
Daily limits for Linn County waters
Begin with the zone rows for Linn County, then check the exception list for the water you fish. Budget $50 if you live in Oregon, $138 if not, for the annual angling license. Salmon, steelhead, sturgeon and halibut also go on a Combined Angling Tag ($69 resident).
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, except mainstem Willamette River and sloughs and tidewater areas of Columbia.
Bluegill, Catfish, Crappie, Other Sunfish, Walleye, Yellow Perch, Stri.
No limit, unless noted under Exceptions.
Lakes: Open all year. Streams: Open during trout, salmon or steelhead seasons, except mainstem Willamette River and sloughs and tidewater areas of Columbia.
Pacific Lamprey
Refer to General (Statewide) Regulations for regulations covering the harvest of Pacific lamprey.
Refer to General (Statewide) Regulations for regulations covering the harvest of Pacific lamprey.
Smelt
Closed.
Closed.
Water-by-water rules in Linn County (27)
Water
Species
Rule
Booklet
Smith River (Mainstem, Douglas Co.) (Mouth to Spencer Cr)
trout
Open for trout, May 22 – Sep 15, catch-and-release only.
p. 39
Smith River (Mainstem, Douglas Co.) (Mouth to Spencer Cr)
hatchery steelhead
Open all year for hatchery steelhead.
p. 39
Smith River (Mainstem, Douglas Co.) (Mouth to Spencer Cr)
chinook
Open for Chinook Jul 1 – Nov 30.
p. 39
Smith River (Mainstem, Douglas Co.) (Spencer Cr to Sisters Cr)
trout
Open for trout, May 22 – Sep 15, catch-and-release only.
p. 39
Smith River (Mainstem, Douglas Co.) (Spencer Cr to Sisters Cr)
Artificial flies and lures only May 22 – Sep 15.
p. 39
Smith River (Mainstem, Douglas Co.) (Spencer Cr to Sisters Cr)
hatchery steelhead
Open for hatchery steelhead Jan 1 – Apr 30 and Dec 1-31.
p. 39
Smith River (Mainstem, Douglas Co.) (Mainstem above Sisters Cr and all tributaries)
trout
Open for trout May 22 – Sep 15, 2 per day, 8 inch minimum length.
p. 39
Smith River (Mainstem, Douglas Co.) (Mainstem above Sisters Cr and all tributaries)
Use of bait allowed only in tidewater.
p. 39
Smith River (Mainstem, Douglas Co.) (Mainstem above Sisters Cr and all tributaries)
See Smith River, North Fork.
p. 39
Smith River, North Fork (Douglas Co.) (Mouth to Johnson Cr)
trout
Open for trout, May 22 – Sep 15, catch-and-release only.
p. 39
Smith River, North Fork (Douglas Co.) (Mouth to Johnson Cr)
hatchery steelhead
Open all year for hatchery steelhead.
p. 39
Smith River, North Fork (Douglas Co.) (Mouth to Johnson Cr)
chinook
Open for Chinook Jul 1 – Nov 30.
p. 39
Smith River, North Fork (Douglas Co.) (Johnson Cr to Bridge 10)
trout
Open for trout, May 22 – Sep 15, catch-and-release only.
p. 39
Smith River, North Fork (Douglas Co.) (Johnson Cr to Bridge 10)
hatchery steelhead
Open for hatchery steelhead Jan 1 – Apr 30 and Dec 1-31.
p. 39
Smith River, North Fork (Douglas Co.) (Johnson Cr to Bridge 10)
Artificial flies and lures only May 22 – Sep 15.
p. 39
Smith River, North Fork (Douglas Co.) (Mainstem above Bridge 10 and all tributaries)
trout
Open for trout May 22 – Sep 15, 2 per day, 8 inch minimum length.
p. 39
Smith River, North Fork (Douglas Co.) (Mainstem above Bridge 10 and all tributaries)
Use of bait allowed only in tidewater.
p. 39
Detroit Reservoir
All Zone Regulations apply.
p. 44
Foster Reservoir
trout
5 hatchery trout per day, 8 inch minimum length.
p. 45
Foster Reservoir
kokanee
Zone regulations apply for kokanee.
p. 45
Limits as printed in the 2026 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations (ODFW, eRegulations edition) (Willamette 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.
Records
Record-book catches around Linn County
For Linn County, the closest record waters sit inside 80 miles.
Fishing in Linn County: the questions that come up
Can I launch a trailered boat in Linn County?
Count 39 open launches, 26 for trailers.
Which Linn County lake has the widest outline?
Detroit Lake, about 3,590 acres on its mapped outline.
What species live in water around Linn County?
Rainbow trout lead the count of water pages within 40 miles, then cutthroat trout, largemouth bass and chinook salmon.
Where can Linn County anglers buy roe, shrimp or worms?
Try Dey's Bait & Tackle; 9 are listed.
How many guide or charter listings give Linn County as home port?
The listings show 1 guide or charter here.
Where is Linn County governed from?
The seat is Albany.
What does ODFW charge an out-of-state angler in Linn County?
A year of Oregon angling privileges costs $50 in state and $138 from out of state this season. For salmon and steelhead the booklet adds the Combined Angling Tag at $69 resident.
Which Oregon counties are a short drive from Linn County?
Try Marion County, Lane County and Benton County.
Which booklet zone applies in Linn County?
Most waters ODFW lists in Linn County fall under the ODFW Willamette Zone table, though zone lines follow drainages rather than county lines.
Are there water-specific limits in Linn County?
The 2026 booklet prints 27 water exceptions reaching this county, starting with Smith River (Mainstem, Douglas Co.); the table above shows each.
Where are stocked lakes in Linn County?
Yes: 4 waters on the ODFW schedule, such as Foster Lake, Carmen Reservoir and Waverly Lake; releases are planned, not confirmed.
Point the rig toward Linn County
Each Oregon river page shows its USGS gauges live.
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