2023 Summer Steelhead Framework

April 18, 2023, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife held a webinar to discuss steelhead in the Columbia basin summer steelhead. They will continue to use a framework developed in 2022 to determine the fishing regulations for the Columbia and its tributaries which include the lower Deschutes River.

The summer steelhead season will start open on the Deschutes because the number of wild adult steelhead passing Sherars Falls was over 625 fish. In order to remain open, additional benchmarks of 9,900 steelhead over Bonneville July 1 – July 31 and 23,100 steelhead over Bonneville July 1 – August 31.

In 2022, these benchmarks were met.

ODFW’s summer steelhead forecast for 2023 is grim. The total forecasted run of wild, summer steelhead to Bonneville Dam is 18,600. This far short of the 23,100 steelhead required July 1 – August 31 to have a full steelhead fishing season.

The DRA will be following the numbers closely and will keep our supporters updated.

If there is a season, please remember to fish responsibly. Use single, barbless hooks; don’t fish when the water reaches 68F; and keep fish in the water as much as possible.