Rufus, Oregon, is a cool little fishing town, about two hours east of Portland in the beautiful Columbia River Gorge.
Rufus is a city in sparsely populated Sherman County, Oregon. The city’s population was 284 at the 2022 census.
Many people know Rufus because of the great walleye fishing that the Columbia River has to offer. Rufus sits near the river’s banks right below the John Day Dam, putting it in a prime spot for many types of angling, including salmon, steelhead, sturgeon, and of course walleye fishing.
This section of the Columbia River near Rufus also offers plenty of panfish, including bass, perch, crappie and bluegill fishing.
With the temperatures in the high 80s and low 90s in the summertime Rufus. Oregon also offers great opportunity for water sports, such as jet skis, swimming and kitesurfing and wakeboarding.
But walleye fishing is often what brings me and my happy customers here to Rufus.
Many experts believe the next record walleye will come out of the Columbia River near Rufus.
If you don’t have a boat and you still want to fish near Rufus, no problem. There is plenty of bank access. Take the Rufus exit fr4o I 84 head towards John Day Dam and look for the access road that runs along the river from the dam to just past Rufus. Some species, including walleye, can be difficult to catch from the shoreline, but bass and panfish catfish species are common in shallow water.
Be sure to check the regulations when fishing the Columbia River near Rufus as salmon and sturgeon and steelhead are very seasonal fish. As of now, walleye and panfish seasons are year-round, and sturgeon is a catch-and-release fishery all year around. Oftentimes when the water reaches very high temperatures, they will even close, catch and release sturgeon. So always check your regulations.
Just four miles east of Rufus is one of my favorite rivers. I grew up and fell in love with fishing the John Day River, which offers not just fishing but also camping and water sports. Check it out. You will be glad you did.
If you’re unsure what the season is, be sure to call me at Marvin’s Guide Service, and I will be happy to hook you up in or around Rufus for salmon, sturgeon, steelhead or walleye. Read more about walleye fishing here!
When visiting Rufus, Oregon, I would also suggest crossing the river over to Goldendale, Washington, and checking out the Maryhill Museum of Art.
The Dalles Oregon is a cool town in the Columbia River gorge. The Dalles OR is just a few miles west of Rufus OR.
Be sure to check out my bass, salmon, and Sturgeon page for mor information.
Happy client with walleye caught fishing with Marvin’s Guide Service on the Columbia River near Rufus, Oregon.
Last Updated on by Marvin
