Malheur River

Boat Ramps: 0
Access Points: 0
Species: 10

The Malheur River is a tributary of the Snake River flowing approximately 165 miles through eastern Oregon's high desert landscape. This freestone river rises in the southern Blue Mountains near Strawberry Mountain in the Strawberry Mountain Wilderness and flows through diverse terrain including the Malheur National Forest before joining the Snake River north of Ontario, Oregon. The name "Malheur" translates to "unfortunate river" from French, given by early Hudson's Bay Company traders. Despite sharing a name, the river does not flow into nearby Malheur Lake, which sits in the separate Harney Basin. The river system offers excellent wild trout fishing opportunities in a remote, scenic setting characterized by wide open spaces and rugged terrain.

Oregon licenses and regulations4 to check before you go

Species & education

Learn what type of fish are at Malheur River and what's needed to catch them.

Find which waters have the species you want to catch

Smallmouth Bass

Micropterus dolomieu

Rainbow Trout

Oncorhynchus mykiss

Brook Trout

Salvelinus fontinalis

Bluegill Sunfish

Lepomis macrochirus

Bull Trout

Salvelinus confluentus

Chinook Salmon

Oncorhynchus tshawytscha

Coho Salmon

Oncorhynchus kisutch

Mountain Whitefish

Prosopium williamsoni

Northern Pikeminnow

Ptychocheilus oregonensis

Steelhead

Fishing spots, boat ramps & amenities

Learn how to get on Malheur River. Uncover great fishing access points, boat ramps, and all the facilities you need for an unforgettable day on the water. Some locations shown may border or include private property. Always check property boundaries and applicable regulations before visiting. onWater's Public & Private Land layer can help you plan your access with confidence.

Owyhee Fly Shop

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Know where you can legally fish on Malheur River

See public and private land boundaries along the water, turn on private parcels with owner details to know where permission is required, and find land-trust parcels that offer permitted fishing access.

Oregon licenses and regulations

Oregon Boating Regulations

When using any type of watercraft to access a body of water, it is important to follow all federal, state, and local rules and regulations. These rules and regulations include boat permitting and licensing, invasive species inspections and stamps, life jacket and PFD rules, motor size and horsepower restrictions, noise limitations, restrictions on personal watercraft, and many more. Visit the web link below for the most current rules and regulations for this body of water.

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Oregon Fishing License

An Oregon fishing license is required for residents and non-residents, age 12 and over. You must carry your fishing license at all times while fishing in the State. Make sure you have the correct tags, catch cards and endorsements for the water bodies and species you are targeting.

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Oregon Fishing Regulations

This river has a variety of species and regulations, including potential floating and/or watercraft restrictions. Because this river is specially managed for species, seasons, angling methods, and watercraft, it is strongly encouraged you check all federal, state, and local regulations before fishing. This river is prone to emergency regulations. Stay up to date on specific river regulation changes. Visit any of the links below, inquire locally, or contact a local fly shop to learn current regulations and restrictions.

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Oregon Stream Access Laws

The people of Oregon are the owners of the submerged and submersible land (“beds and banks”) underlying all navigable and tidally influenced waterways. In most cases, this ownership extends to the line of ordinary high water or high tide, but ownership can be mixed, even along the same waterway. The Department of State Lands is responsible for management of publicly owned submerged and submersible land. The public has rights to use the beds and banks of navigable waterways for any legal activity, such as boating, fishing and swimming, including pulling your canoe or kayak onto the bank.

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Take Malheur River with you

The onWater Fish app keeps this water's access points, species and conditions in your pocket, with the tools you use once you're there.

Use the map without signal
Download the map around Malheur River to use it offline when coverage drops.
Log your catches here
Keep a private fishing journal for Malheur River to find where and when fish are biting for you.

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