Fishing With 2 Rods Again Allowed For Willamette Springers, Most Other Fish

THE FOLLOWING IS A PRESS RELEASE FROM THE OREGON DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE

Anglers will be able to use their two-rod validation in the Willamette River this year for hatchery spring Chinook and all other fish except sturgeon, beginning March 1 downstream of Willamette Falls and May 1 upstream of Willamette Falls. 

AN ANGLER RUNS TWO RODS FOR HATCHERY SPRING CHINOOK ON THE WILLAMETTE LAST SEASON.

The 2025 Columbia River spring-summer forecast anticipates 51,200 adult Willamette-origin spring Chinook will return to the mouth of the Columbia River. Of the total adult return, approximately 36,600 are expected to be hatchery-origin fish which exceeds the minimum return threshold of 34,000 adult hatchery fish established last year to allow the two-rod rule. Based on past data, a return of 34,000 hatchery-origin adults at the Columbia River mouth should provide sufficient escapement to meet overall broodstock needs for the basin. 

“In 2024, we were a little tight on broodstock collections since the actual run was lower than forecast,” said John North, ODFW Deputy Fish Division Administrator. “We intend to continue using the 34,000 adult hatchery threshold to provide additional opportunity for anglers when we anticipate a surplus of hatchery fish, but we also need to make sure we meet our hatchery needs.” 

The spring Chinook forecast is usually published on ODFW’s Columbia River page in December, meaning next year, anglers should know the status of the two-rod allowance for the 2026 season in December 2025. 

The two-rod regulation follows: 

Area: Lower Willamette River downstream of Willamette Falls (including Multnomah Channel), and that portion of the Clackamas River downstream of the Highway 99 Bridge (just upstream of the confluence with the Willamette) 

Species: Applies to all game and non-game fish (except sturgeon) when angling is open to hatchery Chinook, hatchery steelhead, trout, or warmwater game fish 

Dates: March 1-Aug. 15, 2025 

Area: Willamette River above Willamette Falls, including tributaries 

Species: Applies to all game and non-game fish (except sturgeon) when angling is open to hatchery Chinook, hatchery steelhead, trout, or warmwater game fish 

Dates: May 1-July 31, 2025 

Two-rod validations cost $28 for both residents and non-residents. Licensed anglers who purchase the validation can use two rods wherever regulations allow them, which is primarily in ponds and lakes. 

Kids under the age of 12 do not need a validation to use a second rod in areas where two rods are authorized. 

Anglers should always check for any in-season changes to permanent regulations by visiting the Recreation Report / Fishing Report for their zone and clicking the Regulation Updates tab, https://myodfw.com/recreation-report/fishing-report/willamette-zone#Regulation-Updates