Fishing near me in Portland : 6 spots within 50 miles
There are 6 mapped fishing venues within 50 miles of Portland, and the closest, Willamette River, is about 2.8 miles from the city center. Below they're ranked by distance, with Oregon license info, the species you can expect, and answers to the questions Portland anglers ask most.
Top Fishing Spots Near Portland
Every mapped venue within 50 miles of Portland, nearest first. Click any spot for full venue details, directions, and species.
Closest first
- 1
Willamette River
2.8 mi away
The Willamette River runs the length of western Oregon's valley through Eugene, Salem and Portland, fished for smallmouth bass, steelhead and sturgeon along the way. The lower river below Willamette Falls holds the spring Chinook run most visitors come for.
- 2
Progress Quarry Lake
9.6 mi awayBeaverton city, Washington County
- 3
Wilsonville Pond
18 mi awayClackamas County
- 4
Sherman Reservoir Number Two
21 mi awayColumbia County
- 5
Schmadeke Reservoir
27 mi awayWashington County
Schmadeke Pond is a 5-acre reservoir in Washington County, Oregon, stocked with rainbow trout and trout, with bait and camping available.
- rainbow trout
- trout
- 6
Gunners Lake
28 mi awayColumbia County
Want more options? Browse all Oregon fishing venues or the Oregon fishing near me guide.
Do You Need a Fishing License in Oregon?
The short answer for Portland anglers, plus where to find the current Oregon prices, exemptions, and free fishing days.
License Info
In most cases, yes: a Oregon license before you cast
Fishing licenses in Oregon are issued by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW). Anglers above the state minimum age need a valid license to fish public water around Portland. Age thresholds, resident and non-resident fees, short-term options, and exemptions all vary by state and change each season, so check the current rules on the ODFW site before you buy.
The linked guide is updated for 2026 with current resident, non-resident, and short-term fees, where to buy online and in person, and this year's free fishing days.
What Can You Catch Near Portland?
The most-recorded species across the 6 venues listed above.
What's Biting
- Rainbow Trout
- Trout
The most-recorded species across these venues are rainbow trout, trout. Open GilledIt to see real-time catch reports for any of these species near you.
Keep Exploring Oregon Fishing
More Resources
Fishing Near Me in Portland: FAQ
There are 6 mapped fishing venues within 50 miles of Portland, and the closest is Willamette River, about 2.8 miles from the city center. The list above ranks them by distance: city-park ponds, reservoirs, and public-access water. Open GilledIt to see live catch reports near your exact location.
Often, yes. Many city-park ponds and public reservoirs around Portland are free to access once you hold a valid Oregon fishing license, and many states also run free fishing days each year when no license is needed. Dates and rules change, so confirm on the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) website or in our Oregon license guide.
In most cases, yes: anglers above the state's minimum age need a valid Oregon fishing license to fish public water around Portland. Licenses are issued by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW). Age cut-offs, fees, and exemptions vary by state and change each season, so check the ODFW site or our Oregon fishing license guide for current prices, where to buy, and free fishing days before you go.
Across the venues listed above, the most-recorded species are rainbow trout, trout. Species mix varies by venue, so check each spot's page for its confirmed list, or open GilledIt for real-time catch reports around Portland.
For most waters around Portland, spring (March to May) and fall (September to November) are the most productive windows: fish feed hard around the spawn and again before winter. Early morning and the last hour of light are the best daily bites in summer. Check the GilledIt community feed for what's working near Portland this week.
Start logging catches around Portland
GilledIt is the social fishing app for American anglers. Log catches with photos, auto-tagged weather, pressure and moon data. Free on iOS and Android.