The Oregon Bass & Panfish Club has provided us with the following detailed chart. It outlines the best fishing months and water temperatures for catching bass, crappie, walleye, catfish and other warmwater gamefish in Oregon.
This information was crafted by club member Paul Ingraham, photographed on this page with an Umpqua River smallmouth bass.
For more information about where to catch many of these species of fish, be sure to start with our Best Warmwater Fishing in Oregon page.
In the chart below:
- “Standard” are months when these fish are fairly likely to be caught in the state.
- “Best” are ideal months when each species tends to bite most readily.
- “Temperature” refers to water temp, not air temperature.
Black Crappie
Temperature: 56°-76°
Standard: March-October
Best: April-August
White Crappie
Temperature: 56°-80°
Standard: March-October
Best: April-August
Largemouth Bass
Temperature: 60°-80°
Standard: February-November
Best: April-October
Smallmouth Bass
Temperature: 58°-70°
Standard: February-November
Best: April-September
Bullhead Catfish
Temperature: 74°-84°
Standard: February-December
Best: May-September
Channel Catfish
Temperature: 65°-90°
Standard: February-December
Best: May-September
Yellow Perch
Temperature: 66°-76°
Standard: April-November
Best: May-September
Bluegill
Temperature: 60°-85°
Standard: March-October
Best: May-October
Pumpkinseed
Temperature: 70°-82°
Standard: May-October
Best: July-September
Walleye
Temperature: 40°-70°
Standard: All year
Best: March-October
The Oregon Bass & Panfish Club is involved in a variety of angler education and fisheries enhancement activities. See their club page on this website.