Mountain Whitefish in Oregon
The Oregon rules and waters for mountain whitefish.
- no bag capbag
- 5 lb 12 ozrecord
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mountain whitefish by the Oregon numbers
ODFW sets mountain whitefish rules through the "Bluegill, Catfish, Crappie, Other Sunfish, Walleye, Yellow Perch, Striped Bass, Sucker, No." row of each zone table. The first table, Willamette Zone, puts it this way: No limit, unless noted under Exceptions.
In 2021, Alex Diez brought the record 5 lb 12 oz out of Deschutes River. Willamette River, Deschutes River and Columbia River head a list of 39 Oregon waters with it.
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| Zone | Row as printed | Bag and size | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Willamette Zone | Bluegill, Catfish, Crappie, Other Sunfish, Walleye, Yellow P. | 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. |
| Central Zone | Bluegill, Catfish, Crappie, Other Sunfish, Walleye, Yellow P. | No limit. | Lakes: Open all year. Streams: Open during trout, salmon or steelhead seasons only, except portions of Columbia River tributaries. |
| Northeast Zone | Bluegill, Catfish, Crappie, Other Sunfish, Walleye, Yellow P. | No limit. | Lakes: Open all year. Streams: Open during trout, salmon or steelhead seasons only, except portions of Columbia River tributaries. |
| Southeast Zone | Whitefish, Sucker, Northern Pikeminnow, Carp, Chub, Sculpin,. | No limit. | Lakes and Reservoirs: Open all year. Streams: Open during trout season. |
| Snake River Zone | Bluegill, Catfish, Crappie, Other Sunfish, Walleye, Yellow P. | No limit. | Open all year. |
| Columbia River Zone | Bass, Striped Bass, Bluegill, Catfish, Crappie, other Sunfis. | No limit. | Open all year. |
Limits as printed in the 2026 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations (ODFW, eRegulations edition) (eRegulations), read November 2, 2026.
The Oregon record mountain whitefish
| Listed as | Weight | Angler | Water | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whitefish, Mountain | 5 lb 12 oz | Alex Diez | 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.
Oregon pages naming mountain whitefish
Rivers to fish for mountain whitefish
- Willamette RiverMultnomah County
- Deschutes RiverSherman County
- Columbia RiverClatsop County
- McKenzie RiverLane County
- Clackamas RiverClackamas County
- North Santiam RiverLinn County
- Tualatin RiverClackamas County
- Middle Fork Willamette RiverLane County
- Grande Ronde RiverWallowa County
- South Santiam RiverLinn County
- Molalla RiverClackamas County
- North Fork John Day RiverGrant County
- Sandy RiverMultnomah County
- Snake RiverUmatilla County
- Owyhee RiverMalheur County
- Santiam RiverMarion County
- Umatilla RiverUmatilla County
- Yamhill RiverYamhill County
ODFW Fish Habitat Distribution layers (ODFW ArcGIS), read November 2, 2026; a mapped species is habitat use ODFW records, not a catch report.
Oregon fish close to mountain whitefish
- Black Crappiefreshwater
- Bluegillfreshwater
- Bullhead Catfishfreshwater
- Channel Catfishfreshwater
- Flathead Catfishfreshwater
- Green Sunfishfreshwater
- Hybrid White Bassfreshwater
- Largemouth Bassfreshwater
- Pumpkinseed Sunfishfreshwater
- Redear Sunfishfreshwater
Basalt, timber and water around Mountain Whitefish on camera
Photo: Bonnie Moreland, Public domain
Photo: Bonnie Moreland, Public domain
Photo: Rick Obst, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Bureau of Land Management Oregon and Washington, CC BY 2.0
Answers on mountain whitefish from the Oregon booklet
How many mountain whitefish may I keep in Oregon?
In the Willamette Zone: No limit, unless noted under Exceptions. Other zones print their own rows.
Which fish tops the ODFW list for mountain whitefish?
The record is 5 lb 12 oz, set in 2021 by Alex Diez on Deschutes River.
Where do mountain whitefish live in Oregon?
Try Willamette River, Deschutes River and Columbia River, out of 39 pages.
Does Oregon list mountain whitefish exceptions?
The exceptions leave it alone.
Does Oregon close mountain whitefish?
ODFW prints for the Willamette Zone: Lakes: Open all year. Streams: Open during trout, salmon or steelhead seasons, except mainstem Willamette River and sloughs and tidewater areas of. Check MyODFW for in-season updates.
Which Oregon license covers mountain whitefish?
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).
How do I claim an Oregon mountain whitefish record?
ODFW keeps the list; its record fish article explains how to submit a claim.
Which ODFW name covers mountain whitefish?
Booklet and record list use Whitefish, Mountain and Mountain Whitefish.
Chase mountain whitefish on Oregon water
Open a lake, river or bay above for launches and rules.