Every Boat Ramp on Snake River (Oregon)

About Snake River (Oregon)

The Snake River forms Oregon's eastern border and carves Hells Canyon, the deepest river gorge in North America at over 7,900 feet from rim to river, through the rugged wilderness of Wallowa, Baker, and Malheur counties. With 180 miles of shoreline and depths reaching 150 feet in the canyon pools, this powerful river offers some of the most remote and dramatic fishing in the Pacific Northwest. From the high desert near Ontario to the wild canyon accessible only by jet boat or foot trail below Joseph, the Snake River provides an extraordinary range of fishing environments and species.

Smallmouth Bass are the most popular gamefish in the Snake River's Oregon waters, with the warm, rocky habitat of Hells Canyon producing exceptional numbers of hard-fighting bronzebacks that average 12 to 16 inches. Chinook Salmon and Steelhead make epic migrations through the canyon, with fishing permitted during open seasons managed by ODFW. White Sturgeon inhabit the deepest pools, with catch-and-release fishing available for these ancient giants. Channel Catfish and Crappie provide additional variety, particularly in the slower waters near Ontario and in the reservoir sections.

Access to the Snake River's Oregon side ranges from easily reached boat launches near Ontario to remote wilderness launch points that require significant travel on gravel roads. Jet boat tours and outfitter-guided trips from Hells Canyon Dam provide the most popular access to the canyon's best fishing water. Whether you are jet-boating through the wild rapids of Hells Canyon to cast for Smallmouth Bass, drifting for Steelhead in the canyon's emerald pools, or fishing for Catfish from the bank near Ontario, the Snake River delivers wilderness fishing in one of the most awe-inspiring landscapes in the American West.

Nearest towns: Ontario, Hells Canyon, Joseph