ODFW loosens fishing rules at nearby reservoirs through Sept. 30
Thief Valley, Pilcher Creek and Wolf Creek will have no trout or bass limits June 1 through Sept. 30, a drawdown response that could boost harvest near North Powder.
Anglers at Thief Valley Reservoir, Pilcher Creek Reservoir and Wolf Creek Reservoir will face much looser rules starting June 1: the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is suspending minimum and maximum size limits and daily and possession bag limits for rainbow trout and bass through Sept. 30. The agency says the change is meant to respond to dropping water levels before remaining fish are trapped in isolated pools and die in warm, turbid water.
That matters well beyond Union County for Baker County residents who fish the same eastern Oregon basin and watch reservoir conditions near North Powder closely. Thief Valley Reservoir is about 15 miles from North Powder off I-84 exit 285, and Wolf Creek Reservoir is about 8 miles west of North Powder. Pilcher Creek Reservoir sits in the foothills of the Elkhorn Mountains and offers 17 primitive camping sites, a dock and a boat ramp, while Wolf Creek has a boat ramp, boarding float, vaulted toilets and picnic areas, with fishing, water-skiing and jet skiing among the uses.
During the temporary rule period, fish can be harvested by hand, dip net or angling. ODFW also says anyone with a valid Two-Rod Validation may use any number of rods. The relaxed rules cover both rainbow trout and bass, and they arrive just before the summer season begins in earnest, including ODFW’s Free Fishing Weekend on June 6-7. That timing could increase opportunity for casual anglers and families, while also putting more pressure on the same limited access points and popular shorelines.
ODFW said it has made similar in-season changes in recent years at reservoirs facing drawdown. In 2025, the agency suspended Thief Valley’s limits from Aug. 1 through Sept. 30 and said the reservoir was expected to be drawn completely down by the end of August. Thief Valley is a Bureau of Reclamation irrigation impoundment with a reputation as a productive coldwater fishery, which makes it a useful signal for how hard dry conditions can hit recreation and fish habitat in this corner of the state.
ODFW lists its offices in The Dalles, Prineville and Bend for more information on the temporary rules.
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