Chinook Salmon in Oregon
Oregon zone limits, the ODFW record and water pages for chinook salmon.
- In the aggregatebag
- 83 lb 0 ozrecord
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Oregon chinook salmon in brief
The zone tables group chinook salmon into a row titled "Salmon and Steelhead". The Northwest Zone version reads: In the aggregate: 2 adult salmon or steelhead per day, 20 per year. 5 jack salmon per day, 2 daily jack limits in possession. Wild salmon bag limits are determined annually.
The Oregon record stands at 83 lb 0 oz, caught by Ernie St Claire in 1910 on Umpqua River. Try Lost Creek Lake, Applegate Lake and Fish Lake (Jackson County), three of the 106 pages that list it.
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| Zone | Row as printed | Bag and size | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northwest Zone | 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. Wild salmon bag limits are determined annually. | Closed unless noted under Exceptions. Note: Regulation changes may occur throughout the year and are posted on the MyODFW. |
| Southwest Zone | 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. Wild salmon bag limits are determined annually. | Closed unless noted under Exceptions. |
| Willamette Zone | Salmon and Steelhead below Willamette Falls and Columbia Riv. | In the aggregate: 2 adult salmon or steelhead per day, 20 per year. 5 jacks per day, 2 daily jack limits in possession. | Closed in all waters unless noted under Exceptions. |
| Willamette Zone | Salmon above Willamette Falls | 2 adult salmon per day, 5 jacks per day, 2 daily jack limits in possession. 20 salmon and steelhead per year in aggregate. | Closed in all waters unless noted under Exceptions. |
| Central Zone | 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. | Closed in all waters unless noted by species under Exceptions. |
| Northeast Zone | 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. |
| Southeast Zone | Salmon and Steelhead | see the ODFW booklet | Closed to angling for salmon and steelhead. |
| Snake River Zone | Salmon | see the ODFW booklet | Closed in all waters unless noted by species under Exceptions. |
| Columbia River Zone | 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. | Closed in all waters unless noted by species under Exceptions. Additional salmon and steelhead seasons are determined on an. |
| Marine Zone | Salmon and Steelhead | Ocean salmon and steelhead seasons and restrictions are set each April by the Pacific Fishery Management Council. Regulations are published each May and are available from license agents. | Ocean salmon and steelhead seasons and restrictions are set each April by the Pacific Fishery Management Council. |
Limits as printed in the 2026 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations (ODFW, eRegulations edition) (eRegulations), read November 2, 2026.
Oregon state-record chinook salmon
| Listed as | Weight | Angler | Water | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salmon, Chinook | 83 lb 0 oz | Ernie St Claire | Umpqua River | 1910 |
Oregon record fish as listed by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (record fish article, dated March 4, 2026), read November 2, 2026.
Oregon water ODFW maps for chinook salmon
Reservoirs with chinook salmon
- Lost Creek Lake2,522 acres
- Applegate Lake949 acres
- Fish Lake (Jackson County)380 acres
- Cape Meares Lake158 acres
- Garrison Lake146 acres
- Town Lake10 acres
Moving water for chinook salmon
- Willamette RiverMultnomah County
- Rogue RiverJackson County
- Deschutes RiverSherman County
- Columbia RiverClatsop County
- McKenzie RiverLane County
- Alsea RiverLincoln County
- John Day RiverWheeler County
- Umpqua RiverDouglas County
- Nehalem RiverTillamook County
- Clackamas RiverClackamas County
- Siuslaw RiverLane County
- Siletz RiverLincoln County
- South Umpqua RiverDouglas County
- North Santiam RiverLinn County
- North Umpqua RiverDouglas County
- Coquille RiverCoos County
- Nestucca RiverTillamook County
- Tualatin RiverClackamas County
Coastal Oregon pages for chinook salmon
ODFW Fish Habitat Distribution layers (ODFW ArcGIS), read November 2, 2026; a mapped species is habitat use ODFW records, not a catch report.
Fish sharing a row with Oregon chinook salmon
- Chum Salmonfreshwater
- Coho Salmonfreshwater
- Kokaneefreshwater
Scenes of the rivers and lakes by Chinook Salmon
Photo: Bureau of Land Management Oregon and Washington, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife, Public domain
Photo: Bonnie Moreland, Public domain
Photo: Bonnie Moreland, Public domain
Oregon chinook salmon, answered
Which booklet row limits chinook salmon?
ODFW prints this for the Northwest Zone: In the aggregate: 2 adult salmon or steelhead per day, 20 per year. 5 jack salmon per day, 2 daily jack limits in possession. Wild salmon bag limits are determined annually. Rows differ from zone to zone.
How heavy is the Oregon chinook salmon record?
Ernie St Claire caught it: 83 lb 0 oz in 1910 on Umpqua River.
Which Oregon waters are good bets for chinook salmon?
Lost Creek Lake, Applegate Lake and Fish Lake (Jackson County) lead 106 pages that list it.
Which Oregon waters change the chinook salmon rule?
The zone rows apply to it on every water.
Is chinook salmon open now in Oregon?
The Northwest Zone season reads Closed unless noted under Exceptions. Note: Regulation changes may occur throughout the year and are posted on the MyODFW website. MyODFW carries any in-season change.
What do out-of-state anglers buy before fishing for chinook salmon?
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).
What does an Oregon chinook salmon record need?
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife certifies records and lists the rules in its record article.
How does the booklet name chinook salmon?
The ODFW names are Salmon, Chinook and Chinook Salmon.
Set out for Oregon chinook salmon
Pick a lake or bay above, then check its zone table before the drive.