Best Fly-Fishing in Oregon

This list represents the most popular fly-fishing in Oregon (learn more about Top Trails). Use this list to plan your next Oregon fly-fishing trip. Select a state and/or activity below to find even more top trails.

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#1. Owyhee River

This 10-mile stretch of the Owyhee River below Owyhee Dam is a classic tailwater trout fishery, created by regular cold water releases from the Owyhee reservoir. Once considered a remote location fish…

From the guidebook "Fishing Oregon"
Nyssa , OR - Fishing

(About Top Trails)

#2. Deschutes River

Wild steelhead, indigenous hybrid ‘bows, and a stunning canyon. The Little Deschutes rises on the north side of the Mount Thielsen Wilderness, across the divide from the headwaters of the North Fork o…

From the guidebook "America's 100 Best Trout Streams"
Maupin , OR - Fly-Fishing

#3. Metolius River

Rising fully formed from underground springs originating in the Cascade Mountains, the Metolius River flows through a beautiful forest of ponderosa pine, cedar, and firs, making fishing here one of th…

From the guidebook "Fishing Oregon"
Sisters , OR - Fly-Fishing

#4. Eagle Cap Wilderness Fly-Fishing (Oregon)

At the mention of Oregon, most anglers envision coastal rivers shrouded in mist spilling from the lush Cascades—but this is a big state with a varied climate. The mountains in arid eastern Oregon more…

From the guidebook "Fly-Fishing the Rocky Mountain Backcountry"
LaGrande , OR - Fly-Fishing

#5. Nehalem River and Bay

Flowing nearly 120 miles from its headwaters deep in the Coast Range mountains, the Nehalem River is a major northwest Oregon steelhead and salmon stream. Chinook salmon begin showing up in Nehalem Ba…

From the guidebook "Fishing Oregon"
Nehalem , OR - Fishing

#6. Umpqua River, North Fork

Zane Grey’s favorite river is still the best. Reportedly on his way to Campbell River to fish for Tyee, Zane Grey paused at the confluence of Canton and Steamboat Creeks, in the then unspoiled watersh…

From the guidebook "America's 100 Best Trout Streams"
Roseburg , OR - Fly-Fishing

#7. Middle Deschutes River

This 35-mile section of the Deschutes between the city of Bend and Lake Billy Chinook is generally regarded as the middle segment of the river. It flows through a mix of sagebrush, canyon country, gra…

From the guidebook "Fishing Oregon"
Redmond , OR - Fly-Fishing

#8. Siletz River

This 70-mile-long coastal stream sports both a winter and summer run of steelhead, along with spring and fall Chinook. It is traditionally one of Oregon’s top steelhead and salmon angling streams. Sum…

From the guidebook "Fishing Oregon"
Siletz , OR - Fishing

#9. Deschutes River

If I could choose only one river to fish, the Deschutes would be it. It has it all: beauty, variety of fish, challenging water, and a true test of fly fishing skills. Yet it’s possible to take a real…

From the guidebook "Fly Fishing Central & Southeastern Oregon"
Bend , OR - Fly-Fishing

Published by No Nonsense Fly Fishing Guidebooks

#10. Blitzen River

Although commonly referred to as the Blitzen, its true name is the Donner und Blitzen River, German for thunder and lightning. It was awarded that moniker by U.S. Army troops who crossed the river dur…

From the guidebook "Fishing Oregon"
Frenchglen , OR - Fly-Fishing

#11. Chewaucan River

A lesser-known, and off-the-beaten-path Oregon trout stream, the Chewaucan River nevertheless offers fine trout angling in a forested and open meadow setting. A visit here is an aesthetically pleasing…

From the guidebook "Fishing Oregon"
Paisley , OR - Fishing

#12. Paulina Lake

At 1,530 acres and over 250 feet deep in places, Paulina Lake is one of the deepest lakes in the state. Occupying the same caldera in Newberry National Volcanic Monument as East Lake, Paulina Lake is…

From the guidebook "Fishing Oregon"
Bend , OR - Fishing

#13. Hood River

This steep-gradient glacial-fed river tumbles out of the Mount Hood National Forest, and flows into the Columbia River at the city of Hood River. The Hood River has nice runs of both summer and winter…

From the guidebook "Fishing Oregon"
Hood River , OR - Fishing

#14. Williamson River

One of Oregon’s top trophy fly fishing waters, the Williamson River heads from springs in the Winema National Forest east of the Klamath Marsh National Wildlife Refuge and flows around 75 miles into U…

From the guidebook "Fishing Oregon"
Chiloquin , OR - Fly-Fishing

#15. Middle Fork of the Willamette River

This nice stretch of river between Lookout Point Reservoir and Hills Creek Reservoir is a great little wild rainbow and cutthroat trout stream. It flows through mostly National Forest Lands, and publi…

From the guidebook "Fishing Oregon"
Oakridge , OR - Fishing

#16. Upper Rogue River

The 30-mile reach between Gold Ray Dam, near the city of Gold Hill, up to the state-operated Cole M. Rivers Fish Hatchery, just below Lost Creek Reservoir, is generally considered the upper Rogue Rive…

From the guidebook "Fishing Oregon"
Shady Cove , OR - Fishing

#17. Donner und Blitzen River

I’m one happy person when I’m in this remote section of Oregon and fishing the Donner und Blitzen (commonly referred to as just the Blitzen). If I could design my own trout stream, I’d use the Blitzen…

From the guidebook "Fly Fishing Central & Southeastern Oregon"
Frenchglen , OR - Fly-Fishing

#18. Portland, OR: Deschutes, Crooked, and Metolius Rivers

I left Baltimore in mid-March in subfreezing temperatures to be welcomed in Portland by cherry blossoms, forsythia, and daffodils gracing green lawns. These lush conditions prevailed as I left the cit…

From the guidebook "Trout Fishing near American Cities"
Redmond , OR - Fly-Fishing

#19. Fall River

Fall River is only about 25 miles southwest of Bend and is readily accessible off South Century Drive. Its proximity to the Sunriver resort and the towns of Bend and La Pine make it a popular destinat…

From the guidebook "Fly Fishing Central & Southeastern Oregon"
Sunriver , OR - Fly-Fishing

#20. Imnaha River

This Wild and Scenic River arises out of the Eagle Cap Wilderness in the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest and flows about 75 miles to its confluence with the Snake River, just north of the Hells Canyon…

From the guidebook "Fishing Oregon"
Imnaha , OR - Fishing