ODFW Begins Spring Trout Stocking Across Northeastern Oregon Waters

Hatchery tankers began rolling across northeastern Oregon in April 2025, delivering thousands of rainbow trout to ponds, reservoirs, and lakes as the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife kicked off its spring stocking program.

ODFW released thousands of legal-size rainbow trout alongside hundreds of trophy-size fish across the region. Among the larger waters on the schedule: Wallowa Lake, the Highway 203 Pond near Baker City, Murray Reservoir east of Unity, Phillips Reservoir near Sumpter, Magone Lake north of Prairie City, and Kinney Lake east of Joseph were all slated to receive thousands of trout through the spring.

Morgan Lake near La Grande served as a focal point for local anglers. The lake opened for fishing on April 22, with 500 legal rainbows scheduled for delivery the week of April 21-25 and 1,750 more planned for the week of May 26-30.

The stocking schedule rolled out in waves across ODFW's northeastern Oregon districts. During the week of April 7-11, the La Grande district received some of the heaviest early deliveries: Highway 203 Pond took 2,250 legal-size trout and 825 trophy fish, while Roulet Pond received 1,100 legals and 125 trophy. In the Enterprise district that same week, Kinney Lake was stocked with 1,200 legals and 100 trophy fish. The Hines district saw Burns Gravel Pond receive the single largest delivery of that week: 5,750 legal-size trout.

The following week, April 14-18, brought releases into the John Day district, with Holliday Park Pond receiving 1,100 legals, Long Creek Pond 1,000 legals, and Seventh Street Pond another 1,100. In the La Grande district, Murray Reservoir received 2,900 legal-size fish, and Haines Pond No. 1 took 900 legals.

The week of April 21-25 spread fish across a wider set of waters. Penland Lake was scheduled for 2,300 legals, McNary Channel Ponds for 2,100, Bull Prairie Reservoir for 1,250, and Twin Ponds, Anson Wright Pond, and Aldrich Ponds for 850, 850, and 650 respectively. Hat Rock Pond and McHaley Pond each received 500 legals. In the Enterprise district, Wallowa Wildlife Pond, also known as Weavers Pond, was slated for 250 legals and 75 trophy fish.

Anglers looking for complete and current stocking information, including any updates to schedules, can consult MyODFW.com.