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John Day River Fishing Closure Extended | Bend News
Steelhead fishing on the John Day River is shutting down permanently starting September 1st, with closures expected to last until at least December 31, 2026—and possibly longer. The entire river system, including both forks and tributaries, is affected. This follows a 2021 framework designed to proactively manage declining fish populations, which have hit record lows—with fewer than 1% of young fish surviving to adulthood and hatchery releases also falling critically short. Drought conditions are worsening habitat, while decades of dam-related challenges continue to hinder migration. Anglers…
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