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Smallmouth Bass
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain 
Kokanee
Photo: Thomas Quine, CC BY 2.0 
Chinook Salmon
Photo: gailhampshire, CC BY 2.0 
Steelhead
Photo: Oregon State University, CC BY-SA 2.0
Oregon lakes and reservoirs
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McKay Reservoir Fishing
A 1,174-acre Oregon reservoir in Umatilla County.
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Umatilla County
Opening notes on McKay Reservoir
Mapped from BLM hydrography, McKay Reservoir spreads across about 1,174 acres of Umatilla County. The launch operators OSMB names are U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Fuel and food are closest in Pendleton, near 6 miles away.
OSMB records 2 open launch sites that reach it. Read 1 water-specific rule before keeping fish here. It falls under the Northeast Zone in the booklet.
1,174acres (BLM outline)
2OSMB launches
7fish mapped
1county
BLM Oregon hydrography lake outlines (NHD), summed by GNIS name (layer), read November 2, 2026.; launch managers from the Oregon State Marine Board launch layer; Census 2023 places.
Species
Which fish ODFW records in McKay Reservoir
Black crappie Brown bullhead Largemouth bass Northern pikeminnow Smallmouth bass Yellow perch Channel catfish
Each fish listed for McKay Reservoir comes from an ODFW habitat polygon, a booklet rule or a record.
How ODFW tags the fish of McKay Reservoir
| Fish | Use ODFW records | Origin | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black crappie | resident multiple uses | non native | UndocObsFish |
| Brown bullhead | resident multiple uses | non native | UndocObsFish |
| Largemouth bass | resident multiple uses | non native | UndocObsFish |
| Northern pikeminnow | unknown | native local | DocObsFish |
| Smallmouth bass | resident multiple uses | non native | UndocObsFish |
| Yellow perch | resident multiple uses | non native | UndocObsFish |
ODFW Fish Habitat Distribution layers (ODFW ArcGIS), read November 2, 2026; a mapped species is habitat use ODFW records, not a catch report.
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OSMB launches on McKay Reservoir
- McKay Creek North boat ramp1 lane, trailered launch; parking, restrooms, life jacket loaner station; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
- McKay Creek South boat ramp1 lane, trailered launch; parking, restrooms, life jacket loaner station; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Alternate launches near McKay Reservoir
- Umatilla Hatchery RampUmatilla River, 6 miles north
Oregon State Marine Board Boating Access Sites layer (OSMB ArcGIS), read November 2, 2026; status as OSMB publishes it.
Limits
Oregon limits at McKay Reservoir
For McKay Reservoir the Northeast Zone rows apply first, then any exception.
| Species | Daily limit as printed | 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. |
Where the booklet sets its own rules for McKay Reservoir
| Water as printed | Species | Rule | Page |
|---|---|---|---|
| McKay Reservoir | bass | 5 bass per day, only 1 bass over 15 inches may be harvested. | p. 60 |
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.
An Oregon angling license ($50 resident, $138 nonresident for 2026) covers anglers 12 and older; salmon, steelhead, sturgeon and halibut go on a Combined Angling Tag ($69 resident).
Limits as printed in the 2026 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations (ODFW, eRegulations edition) (Northeast Zone page), read November 2, 2026.
Records
Biggest fish on record from McKay Reservoir
| Species | Weight | Water as printed | Angler | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catfish, Channel | 36 lb 8 oz | McKay Reservoir | Boone Haddock | 1980 |
Oregon record fish as listed by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (record fish article, dated March 4, 2026), read November 2, 2026.
Compare
How McKay Reservoir stacks against its neighbours
Lake Wallula leads this group on size, with roughly 32,492 acres.
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Kind | OSMB launches | Stocking weeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McKay Reservoir | 1,174 | reservoir | 2 | 0 | |
| Cold Springs Reservoir | 26 miles northwest | 1,440 | reservoir | 0 | 0 |
| Lake Wallula | 30 miles north | 32,492 | reservoir | 5 | 0 |
| Morgan Lake | 37 miles southeast | 60 | lake | 0 | 0 |
| Cutsforth Pond | 38 miles southwest | 0 | lake | 0 | 4 |
| Willow Creek Reservoir (Morrow County) | 40 miles southwest | 154 | reservoir | 1 | 0 |
BLM outlines, the OSMB launch layer and the ODFW stocking schedule; read November 2, 2026.
Nearby
Around McKay Reservoir: Oregon towns, tackle and more water
Nearby lakes worth a look after McKay Reservoir
- Cold Springs Reservoir26 miles northwest
- Lake Wallula30 miles north
- Morgan Lake37 miles southeast
- Cutsforth Pond38 miles southwest
- Willow Creek Reservoir (Morrow County)40 miles southwest
Stores that outfit trips to McKay Reservoir
- Bi-Mart (Pendleton)sporting goods store, Pendleton, 6 miles
- Blue Mountain Anglers & Flyfly shop, Pendleton
- Bi-Mart (Hermiston)sporting goods store, Hermiston
Oregon towns to sleep in near McKay Reservoir
- Pendleton6 miles
- Pilot Rock7 miles
- Athena21 miles
County fishing pages tied to McKay Reservoir
- Umatilla Countyseat: Pendleton
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Fish photos
Know the McKay Reservoir catch by sight
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: Thomas Quine, CC BY 2.0
Photo: gailhampshire, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Oregon State University, CC BY-SA 2.0
Answers
McKay Reservoir, the usual questions settled
Which Oregon county holds McKay Reservoir?
Aim for Umatilla County, about 6 miles from Pendleton.
How much surface does McKay Reservoir have?
Roughly 1,174 acres on the hydrography outline.
Can I tow a trailer boat to McKay Reservoir in Oregon?
OSMB maps 2 launch sites; McKay Creek North boat ramp is one.
What can an Oregon angler hook at McKay Reservoir?
Look for black crappie, brown bullhead, largemouth bass, northern pikeminnow, smallmouth bass, yellow perch and channel catfish.
Which Oregon rules apply on McKay Reservoir?
Trout: Lakes: 5 per day, 3 daily limits in possession. Streams: 2 per day, 3 daily limits in possession; 8-inch minimum. Its ODFW exception sits beside the zone rows.
What does an Oregon license for McKay Reservoir cost in 2026?
An Oregon angling license ($50 resident, $138 nonresident for 2026) covers anglers 12 and older; salmon, steelhead, sturgeon and halibut go on a Combined Angling Tag ($69 resident).
Can I fish McKay Reservoir from an Oregon shoreline?
Neither DLCD nor ODFW maps shore access on it.
Where can I buy an ODFW license near McKay Reservoir?
Try Bi-Mart (Pendleton), roughly 6 miles away.
Which Oregon record names McKay Reservoir?
Catfish, Channel, 36 lb 8 oz, by Boone Haddock (1980).
Hook up the trailer and aim for McKay Reservoir
Read the zone rows, then choose the launch closest to your water.