Fishing in Morrow County, Oregon
County seat: Heppner. Population 12,186.
- 4lake pages
- 6open launches
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Morrow County: start here
Heppner is the seat of Morrow County, home to 12,186 people at the 2020 Census. The ODFW Northeast Zone table governs most named water in Morrow County, but watershed boundaries decide each zone. A state boundary crosses Lake Umatilla.
By mapped acreage Lake Umatilla heads the 4 lakes with guides in Morrow County. Boaters get 6 open launches in the county, with 6 trailered ramps among them.
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.
Mapped launches and lakes, Morrow County
OSMB launch points, DLCD and ODFW shore sites, NHD lake points, PMEP estuary points; read November 2, 2026.
Lakes and reservoirs in Morrow County
| Lake | Acres | Kind | OSMB launches | Fish mapped |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Umatilla | 50,097 (outline), 44% in Oregon | lake | 12 | black crappie, channel catfish, chiselmouth |
| Willow Creek Reservoir (Morrow County) | 154 (outline) | reservoir | 1 | brown bullhead, largemouth bass, pumpkinseed |
| Lake Penland | 62 (outline) | lake | 1 | rainbow trout |
| Cutsforth Pond | 0 (outline) | lake | 0 | rainbow 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.
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Water pages inside 40 miles of Heppner were counted by species, and rainbow trout leads.
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.
Named lakes in Morrow County without their own page
2 more named lakes in Morrow County carry too few published facts for a page.
| Water | Acres (outline) | Nearest place |
|---|---|---|
| Carty Reservoir | 1,025 | Boardman |
| McCormack Slough | 248 | Irrigon |
BLM Oregon hydrography lake outlines (NHD), summed by GNIS name (layer), read November 2, 2026.
Rivers flowing through Morrow County
USGS stations across Morrow County
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Willow Creek At Morgan Street, At Heppner, Or | 2 cfs, 3.87 ft gage height | Nov 11 9:15 pm |
| Willow Creek Abv Willow Cr Lake, Nr Heppner, Or | 1 cfs, 4.42 ft gage height | Nov 11 9:15 pm |
| Willow Creek At Heppner, Or | 1 cfs, 2.37 ft gage height | Nov 11 9:15 pm |
| Balm Fork Near Heppner, Or | 0 cfs, 2.40 ft gage height | Oct 1 2:45 am Not updated since Oct 1, 2003. |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 11, 2026 9:33 pm 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.
Boat launches in Morrow County
- Boardman Marina Park on Lake UmatillaLake Umatilla, 2 lanes, trailered launch
- Irrigon Marina Ramp on Lake UmatillaLake Umatilla, 2 lanes, trailered launch
- Patterson Park on Lake UmatillaLake Umatilla, 1 lane, trailered launch
- Penland Lake Campground boat rampLake Penland, 1 lane, trailered launch
- Threemile Canyon Park on Lake UmatillaLake Umatilla, 1 lane, trailered launch
- Turner Day Park on Willow Creek ReservoirWillow Creek Reservoir, 2 lanes, trailered launch, OSMB status: restricted
Any launch OSMB marks closed has no page here; restricted launches print the reason.
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 weeks in Morrow County
The schedule shows 7,400 trout headed to 2 waters of Morrow County over 6 releases.
- Lake Penland2 releases planned, next listed: May. 24, 2027 – May. 28, 2027: 2,300 legal-size trout
- Cutsforth Pond4 releases planned, next listed: May. 24, 2027 – May. 28, 2027: 700 legal-size trout
ODFW weekly trout stocking schedule (planned releases; ODFW prints size classes, not species), myodfw.com, read November 2, 2026.
Zone limits that reach Morrow County
For Morrow County, zone rows come first and named exceptions override them. A year of Oregon angling privileges costs $50 in state and $138 from out of state this season. Retained salmonids, sturgeon and halibut are logged on the $69 resident Combined Angling Tag.
| 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 | See Umatilla River under Exceptions. There is no annual limit on hatchery salmon as long as the appropriate number of Hatchery Harvest Tags have been purchased to record the catch. | Closed in all waters unless noted by species under Exceptions. |
| Steelhead | 3 per day. | 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 only, except portions of Columbia River tributaries flooded by John Day and. |
| 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 John Day and. |
| Bluegill, Catfish, Crappie, Other Sunfish, Walleye, Yellow Perch, Suck. | No limit. | Lakes: Open all year. Streams: Open during trout, salmon or steelhead seasons only, except portions of Columbia River tributaries flooded by John Day and. |
Booklet exceptions on Morrow County waters (2)
| Water | Species | Rule | Booklet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Willow Creek Reservoir | bass | 5 bass per day, only 1 bass over 15 inches may be harvested. | p. 60 |
| Willow Creek Reservoir | crappie | 25 crappie per day. | p. 60 |
Limits as printed in the 2026 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations (ODFW, eRegulations edition) (Northeast 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.
Big-fish entries close to Morrow County
The record list names no water in Morrow County; these within 80 miles do.
| Species | Weight | Water | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Channel Catfish | 36 lb 8 oz | McKay Reservoir | 1980 |
| Flathead Catfish | 42 lb 0 oz | Snake River | 1994 |
| Brook Trout | 9 lb 6 oz | Deschutes River | 1980 |
| Mountain Whitefish | 5 lb 12 oz | Deschutes River | 2021 |
Oregon record fish as listed by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (record fish article, dated March 4, 2026), read November 2, 2026.
The event calendar for Morrow County
For Morrow County the organizers publish 1 event, 0 still to come.
| Date | Event | Water | Organizer |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 25, 2025 | BAM Columbia River – Boardman Pro-Am 2025 | Columbia River | BAM Tournament Trail (Bass Angler Magazine) |
Organizer schedule and results pages (ODFW publishes no tournament calendar), checked November 2026.
Tackle counters and hired guides, Morrow County
Where to buy gear in Morrow County
- Irrigon Park & Marinamarina, Irrigon
Yellow Pages and store-locator listings, guide and charter business listings (county of the business), read November 2, 2026.
A short trip from Morrow County
Places to stay across Morrow County
- Boardmanpop. 3,828
- Irrigonpop. 2,011
- Heppnerpop. 1,187
Bordering Morrow County
- Gilliam County33 miles west
- Umatilla County44 miles east
- Wheeler County52 miles southwest
- Sherman County52 miles west
A Piscifun kit worth stowing before you head to Morrow County
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Shorelines and riffles near Morrow County, photographed
Photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Bonnie Moreland, Public domain
Photo: Bonnie Moreland, Public domain
Photo: Bonnie Moreland, Public domain
What people ask before fishing Morrow County
How many OSMB launches serve Morrow County?
6 open launches in all, 6 trailered.
Which still water in Morrow County has the widest NHD outline?
Lake Umatilla, about 50,097 acres on its mapped outline.
Which species do Morrow County waters hold?
Rainbow trout lead the count of water pages within 40 miles, then black crappie, largemouth bass and smallmouth bass.
Where can I pick up roe or worms in Morrow County?
The county lists 1, such as Irrigon Park & Marina.
Which guides name Morrow County as home?
Guide listings point to other counties.
Which Oregon town is seat of Morrow County government?
County offices are in Heppner.
Which ODFW license and tag cover Morrow County?
Budget $50 if you live in Oregon, $138 if not, for the annual angling license. The Combined Angling Tag ($69 resident) records any salmon, steelhead, sturgeon or halibut kept.
Which counties surround Morrow County?
The nearest county pages are Gilliam County, Umatilla County and Wheeler County.
Where does Morrow County sit in the Oregon booklet?
Expect the ODFW Northeast Zone limits on most Morrow County waters; zones are drawn by drainage, so check any water near a divide.
Are there fishing derbies in Morrow County?
1 event on file from organizer pages, none ahead yet.
Do ODFW booklet exceptions apply to Morrow County waters?
The 2026 booklet prints 2 water exceptions reaching this county, starting with Willow Creek Reservoir; the table above shows each.
Does ODFW stock trout in Morrow County?
Yes: 2 waters on the ODFW schedule, such as Lake Penland and Cutsforth Pond; releases are planned, not confirmed.
Hitch up for Morrow County
Open a water page for its launches and exceptions.