Top fishing spots within an hour of Portland
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Meira's husband, Julian, proudly displays a rainbow trout he caught in the Deschutes River last weekend. Photo: Courtesy of Julian Lazalde
The Portland metro area is home to dozens of freshwater lakes, rivers and streams perfect for casting a line and seeing what bites.
Why it matters: Fishing can be a fun family activity and deliver a deeper connection to the outdoors — plus, maybe even dinner.
- Whether you're a seasoned angler or just picked up a pole, there's a spot for you.
The latest: Popular species like the spring chinook are arriving in the Willamette River Watershed right now and can be plentiful throughout the summer.
State of play: We spoke with Ben Walczak of the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife and Jason Osborn, owner of Portland Fly Shop, to get their top tips and best places to go.
Cathedral Park, located under the St. Johns Bridge is perhaps the closest for city dwellers. There's plenty of space along the river bank, a boat launch, parking lot and public restroom.
- Find salmon, crappie, bass, bluegill and more — but don't get discouraged if you don't hook something right away. "The Willamette gets fished a lot," Walczak told Axios. "Don't get stuck at one spot if it's not working."
Henry Hagg Lake near Gladstone is open year-round and hosts bass fishing tournaments. ODFW stocks it with 1,500 trophy-size trout each spring.
Progress Lake Park, next to Tualatin's TownSquare mall, is a small, urban option great for beginners and families.
On Mount Hood, Timothy and Trillium lakes draw summer anglers with cutthroat, rainbow and kokanee. Both spin and fly fishing are popular here.
- Yes, but: "There's more lakes on Hood than you could fish in a lifetime," Osborn said. He recommends checking out smaller spots and using a float tube for better access.
Also worth a visit: The Sandy, Clackamas, Washougal and Lewis rivers all have easy-access banks and species like steelhead, sturgeon, shad, coho and trout.
- Plus: ODFW maintains a list of 50 fishing holes within an hour drive of Portland.
Catch up quick: Spin-fishing kits can start as low as $35 for adults, while a basic set up for fly fishing can start at $200, per Osborn. Vancouver-based Echo offers a customizable kit equipped with a rod, reel and line.
- Big 5 or Dick's and other sporting goods stores have entry-level kits, seasonal deals and multiple locations.
- Fisherman's Marine & Outdoor in Portland has a wide range of fishing supplies, bait and flies, plus staff that'll give you advice on how to use it.
Know before you go: Familiarity with the rules, regulations and fishing seasons are a must, as are licenses for people 12 and older.
- You can buy online at any ODFW field office or from more than 250 licensed vendors, including shopping outlets like Fred Meyer and Bi-Mart.
What's next: Free Fishing Weekend is June 7-8, when fishing licenses are not required to fish in Oregon.
The bottom line: When's the best time to go fishing?
- "The obvious answer is whenever I can," Walczak said.