Columbia Basin Endorsement In WA & OR

Need some help here.  I carry an annual Oregon License AND a Washington license w/ a columbia river basin endorsement.  Do I need to have that same endorsement on my Oregon license as well?  Or will the one I purchased through WA cover that?  Thanks!

That's a good question!

It's all about the $$$.  I'd imagine that anything on your Washington License is invalid as soon as you touch Oregon waters.

What I've been told is that you need to have both because that $%^%$! endorsement is also for the tributaries.

Now if you only fish the Columbia... you may get away with it if you always launch from Washington.

Launch and LAND in Washington.  Come ashore in Oregon and Oregon takes over,  Works similar to how it works for the marine zone.

Hrm, thought the marine zone had reciprocity three miles north and south of the Columbia

Hrm, thought the marine zone had reciprocity three miles north and south of the Columbia

We weren't talking about ocean fishing, and I didn't mean that marine zone regulations apply.  I was referring to this part of the regulations as being the model for how ODFW tells me they're dealing with the Columbia basin tags:

"Persons coming ashore in Oregon with ocean caught fish or shellfish are subject to all Oregon sport fishing and licensing regulations."

I still don't mean marine fishing, I just mean that I was told that fresh or salt, regardless of where you launch, if you come ashore in Oregon with fish on board, you need an Oregon license.

I could have been a lot more clear about it.  Even this isn't as clear as it could be...  Sorry.

BTW - I didn't run across any mention of a boundary waters reciprocity agreement between the States.  Not suggesting there isn't an agreement, only saying that I didn't trip over it.

I'm a dual state licencee too.  This is how I play it.

Either license works on the Columbia.  Your launch and landing location don't matter as long as the fish was caught in the mainstem.  You need to have the Columbia River Endorsement for the state's tag you use to log your catch.

I'm a dual state licencee too.  This is how I play it.

Either license works on the Columbia.  Your launch and landing location don't matter as long as the fish was caught in the mainstem.  You need to have the Columbia River Endorsement for the state's tag you use to log your catch.

This is how I understand it as well. 

I'm a dual state licencee too.  This is how I play it.

Either license works on the Columbia.  Your launch and landing location don't matter as long as the fish was caught in the mainstem.  You need to have the Columbia River Endorsement for the state's tag you use to log your catch.

this is my understanding as well, can't put my fingers on the official reference right now but for fish caught in the Columbia mainstem, either states licenses and tags, launch and land your boat in either state.

Just don't launch from, land up, or fish any part of a Columbia tributary of the state that you didn't have the endorsement for.  Example, you have the Washington w/Columbia basin permit.  If you launched from say Ridgefield and came down the Lewis river, crossed the Columbia and fished your way up the Willamette, you may be in for legal issues.

I feel that ODFW and WDFW made this Columbia river endorsement requirement to slow down some of the out of state fishing traffic between states. It adds more money to their pocket by requiring not only a license, but the additional endorsements as well.  Then they can add more fines on top of that.

Just don't launch from, land up, or fish any part of a Columbia tributary of the state that you didn't have the endorsement for.  Example, you have the Washington w/Columbia basin permit.  If you launched from say Ridgefield and came down the Lewis river, crossed the Columbia and fished your way up the Willamette, you may be in for legal issues.

In this case I think it's fishing in the state (Oregon) you don't have a license for that would cause the problem, not where you launch or land.  How could you tag a Willamette fish on a WA license?

For example, I fish on the Columbia with a WA license and endorsement but launch and land at a boat ramp up the Deschutes river in Oregon.  I also do the same from Le Page park on the John Day.

Just don't launch from, land up, or fish any part of a Columbia tributary of the state that you didn't have the endorsement for.  Example, you have the Washington w/Columbia basin permit.  If you launched from say Ridgefield and came down the Lewis river, crossed the Columbia and fished your way up the Willamette, you may be in for legal issues.

In this case I think it's fishing in the state (Oregon) you don't have a license for that would cause the problem, not where you launch or land.  How could you tag a Willamette fish on a WA license?

For example, I fish on the Columbia with a WA license and endorsement but launch and land at a boat ramp up the Deschutes river in Oregon.  I also do the same from Le Page park on the John Day.

I'm pretty sure that could get you a fine if you are landing in an Oregon tributary with fish caught  on Washington license/endorsement.  Not a risk I would take. Might want to contact ODFW and ask specific questions.

I wouldn't have brought it up if I hadn't been checked many times.

If you did your hypothetical scenario with the same WA endorsement but in reverse....launch from the Willy, go up the Columbia and catch a fish in the Lewis, then return to the Willy, you would be legal.  You might have to explain the situation to an OSP officer for awhile, but you would be legal.

this is from the 2015 Oregon perm. regs. booklet:

Regulations For This Zone:
1. In the Columbia River where it forms the state boundary line, not including tributaries, sloughs and lands, the following rules apply:
a. License and tags of either state are valid except when the other state’s season is closed;
b. Anglers must follow the rules of the state in which they are fishing;
c. Anglers are restricted to one daily catch limit for all fish species from the Columbia River, even if licensed in Oregon and Washington;
d. Anglers are restricted to one annual catch limit of white sturgeon in the Columbia River above Bonneville Dam even if licensed in
Oregon and Washington;
e. Anglers with a valid resident or non-resident license issued by either Oregon or Washington may launch or take out their boats from either shore.

2. A valid Columbia River Basin Endorsement must be in possession when fishing for salmon, steelhead, or sturgeon in the mainstem Columbia River from Buoy 10 upstream and in all the rivers and their tributaries that flow into the Columbia River

3. When fishing on tributaries, sloughs or from the land of a state, the angler must be licensed by that state and obey all angling regulations of that state.