Fishing in Union County, Oregon
County seat: La Grande. Population 26,196.
- 11lake pages
- 6open launches
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Union County: start here
La Grande is the seat of Union County, home to 26,196 people at the 2020 Census. The ODFW Southeast Zone table governs most named water in Union County, but watershed boundaries decide each zone.
By mapped acreage Thief Valley Reservoir heads the 11 lakes with guides in Union County. Boaters get 6 open launches in the county, with 4 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, Union County
OSMB launch points, DLCD and ODFW shore sites, NHD lake points, PMEP estuary points; read November 2, 2026.
Lakes and reservoirs in Union County
| Lake | Acres | Kind | OSMB launches | Fish mapped |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thief Valley Reservoir | 750 (outline) | reservoir | 1 | black crappie, brown bullhead, chiselmouth |
| Pilcher Creek Reservoir | 218 (outline) | reservoir | 2 | black crappie, brown bullhead, rainbow trout |
| Wolf Creek Reservoir | 195 (outline) | reservoir | 1 | rainbow trout |
| Jubilee Lake | 92 (outline) | lake | 1 | rainbow trout |
| Morgan Lake | 60 (outline) | lake | 1 | black crappie, brook trout, brown bullhead |
| Fisk Reservoir | 40 (outline) | reservoir | 0 | brook trout, rainbow trout |
| La Grande Reservoir | 33 (outline) | reservoir | 0 | rainbow trout |
| Lookingglass Lake | 28 (outline) | lake | 0 | brook trout |
| Blue Lake (Wallowa County) | 19 (outline) | lake | 0 | brook trout |
| Grande Ronde Lake | 10 (outline) | lake | 1 | brook trout, rainbow trout |
| Roulet Pond | 2 (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 La Grande 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 Union County without their own page
22 more named lakes in Union County carry too few published facts for a page.
| Water | Acres (outline) | Nearest place |
|---|---|---|
| Conley Lake | 120 | Island City |
| Glacier Lake | 53 | Joseph |
| Shaw Reservoir | 47 | Union |
| Eagle Lake | 35 | Joseph |
| Echo Lake | 28 | Joseph |
| Fleets Loop Reservoir | 22 | Island City |
| Hot Lake Reservoir | 22 | Union |
| Pyles Canyon Reservoir Number Two | 20 | Union |
| Twin Lake | 20 | La Grande |
| Prospect Lake | 15 | Joseph |
| Elgin Mill Wastewater Lagoon | 14 | Elgin |
| Hidden Lake | 13 | Joseph |
| Traverse Lake | 12 | Joseph |
| Tombstone Lake | 12 | Joseph |
| Elmers Reservoir 1 | 12 | Island City |
| Elmers Reservoir 4 | 11 | Island City |
| Diamond Lake | 11 | Joseph |
| Bill Howell Reservoir | 10 | Elgin |
| North Powder Pond Number Two | 6 | Union |
| Heart Lake | 3 | Joseph |
| Cached Lake | 2 | Joseph |
| Culver Lake | 1 | Joseph |
BLM Oregon hydrography lake outlines (NHD), summed by GNIS name (layer), read November 2, 2026.
Rivers flowing through Union County
Rivers in Union County listed here only (2)
- East Fork Grande Ronde RiverODFW maps spring chinook and summer steelhead runs
- Little Minam RiverODFW maps spring chinook and summer steelhead runs
ODFW Fish Habitat Distribution stream names and runs, OSMB launches, booklet exceptions and USGS gauges; read November 2, 2026.
Boat launches in Union County
- Grande Ronde Lake Campground launchGrande Ronde Lake, 1 lane, hand carry launch
- Hilgard Junction State Park on Grande Ronde RiverGrande Ronde River, hand carry launch
- Palmer Junction Campground boat ramp on Grande Ronde RiverGrande Ronde River, trailered launch
- Pilcher Creek Low-Water RampPilcher Creek Reservoir, trailered launch, OSMB status: restricted
- Pilcher Creek Upper RampPilcher Creek Reservoir, 1 lane, trailered launch, OSMB status: restricted
- Wolf Creek Boat RampWolf Creek Reservoir, 1 lane, trailered launch, OSMB status: restricted
- Jubilee Lake Campground boat rampJubilee Lake, closed per OSMB
- Morgan Lake Campground boat rampMorgan Lake, closed per OSMB
- Thief Valley County RampThief Valley Reservoir, closed per OSMB
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 Union County
The schedule shows 56,450 trout headed to 6 waters of Union County over 14 releases.
- Thief Valley Reservoir2 releases planned, next listed: Mar. 29, 2027 – Apr. 02, 2027: 10,500 legal-size trout
- Pilcher Creek Reservoir1 release planned, next listed: Apr. 20, 2026 – Apr. 24, 2026: 4,500 legal-size trout
- Wolf Creek Reservoir1 release planned, next listed: Apr. 20, 2026 – Apr. 24, 2026: 4,500 legal-size trout
- Jubilee Lake2 releases planned, next listed: Jun. 28, 2027 – Jul. 02, 2027: 7,700 legal-size trout
- Grande Ronde Lake2 releases planned, next listed: Jun. 28, 2027 – Jul. 02, 2027: 3,000 legal-size trout
- Roulet Pond6 releases planned, next listed: May. 10, 2027 – May. 14, 2027: 1,100 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 Union County
For Union 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 all year, unless noted under Exceptions. |
| Kokanee | 10 per day unless noted under Exceptions. | Open all year. |
| Salmon and Steelhead | see the ODFW booklet | Closed to angling for salmon and steelhead. |
| Bass | Lakes: 5 per day, 3 daily limits in possession unless noted under Exceptions. No limit in the southwest corner of the Southeast Zone. Streams: No limit. | Lakes and Reservoirs: Open all year. Streams: Open during trout season. |
| Bluegill, Catfish, Crappie, Other Sunfish, Walleye, and Yellow Perch | No limit. | Lakes and Reservoirs: Open all year. Streams: Open during trout season. |
| Whitefish, Sucker, Northern Pikeminnow, Carp, Chub, Sculpin, and other. | No limit. | Lakes and Reservoirs: Open all year. Streams: Open during trout season. |
| Sturgeon | Catch-and-release only. | Lakes and Reservoirs: Open all year. Streams: Open during trout season. |
Booklet exceptions on Union County waters (1)
| Water | Species | Rule | Booklet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thief Valley Reservoir | trout | 2 trout over 20 inches may be taken per day. | p. 64 |
Limits as printed in the 2026 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations (ODFW, eRegulations edition) (Southeast 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 Union County
The record list names no water in Union County; these within 80 miles do.
| Species | Weight | Water | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Channel Catfish | 36 lb 8 oz | McKay Reservoir | 1980 |
| Kokanee Salmon | 9 lb 10.72 oz | Wallowa Lake | 2010 |
| Flathead Catfish | 42 lb 0 oz | Snake River | 1994 |
Oregon record fish as listed by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (record fish article, dated March 4, 2026), read November 2, 2026.
Tackle counters and hired guides, Union County
Where to buy gear in Union County
- The Fly Fishing Placefly shop, Summerville
- Bi-Mart (La Grande)sporting goods store, La Grande
Yellow Pages and store-locator listings, guide and charter business listings (county of the business), read November 2, 2026.
A short trip from Union County
Places to stay across Union County
- La Grandepop. 13,026
- Unionpop. 2,152
- Elginpop. 1,717
- Island Citypop. 1,144
Bordering Union County
- Umatilla County41 miles northwest
- Baker County44 miles south
- Wallowa County44 miles northeast
- Grant County75 miles southwest
A Piscifun kit worth stowing before you head to Union County
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Picture key to the fish of Union County
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: Jonathan Cook-Fisher, CC BY 2.0
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters, CC BY 2.0
Photo: kmitschke, CC BY 2.0
What people ask before fishing Union County
How many OSMB launches serve Union County?
6 open launches in all, 4 trailered.
Which still water in Union County has the widest NHD outline?
Thief Valley Reservoir, about 750 acres on its mapped outline.
Which species do Union County waters hold?
Rainbow trout lead the count of water pages within 40 miles, then brook trout, black crappie and brown bullhead.
Where can I pick up roe or worms in Union County?
The county lists 2, such as The Fly Fishing Place.
Which guides name Union County as home?
Guide listings point to other counties.
Which Oregon town is seat of Union County government?
County offices are in La Grande.
Which ODFW license and tag cover Union 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 Union County?
The nearest county pages are Umatilla County, Baker County and Wallowa County.
Where does Union County sit in the Oregon booklet?
Expect the ODFW Southeast Zone limits on most Union County waters; zones are drawn by drainage, so check any water near a divide.
Do ODFW booklet exceptions apply to Union County waters?
The 2026 booklet prints 1 water exception reaching this county, starting with Thief Valley Reservoir; the table above shows each.
Does ODFW stock trout in Union County?
Yes: 6 waters on the ODFW schedule, such as Thief Valley Reservoir, Pilcher Creek Reservoir and Wolf Creek Reservoir; releases are planned, not confirmed.
Hitch up for Union County
Open a water page for its launches and exceptions.