P.O. Box 235 Reedsport, Oregon 97467
541-662-5505
grwbstep@gmail.com

Gardiner Reedsport
Winchester Bay
STEP Program

A Fall Chinook Salmon and Rainbow Trout Hatchery
Our hatchery is located on Hwy 101 between Gardiner and the Smith River Bridge, north of Reedsport

Events

View our upcoming Derby 2022

Eventsnew link
Membership

Join us and support our 501c3

Join Now
What we do

Learn avout our goals

Learn More
A Fall Chinook Salmon and Rainbow Trout Hatchery

Our hatchery is located on Hwy 101 between Gardiner and the Smith River Bridge, north of Reedsport

Since 1992, the Gardiner, Reedsport, Winchester Bay Salmon Trout Enhancement Program (STEP) has annually released nearly 200,000 Fall Chinook Salmon (Smolt) in Winchester Bay near the confluence of Winchester Creek.

In three to five years these smolt return to Winchester Bay’s East Boat Basin as adult Chinook salmon.  Because they acclimated in the bay these salmon have no predetermined spawning area to return to.  They loiter in the lower bay creating a Terminal Fishery.

Anglers catch these fish in the ocean offshore of Winchester Bay, in the bay itself, in the east boat basin and the lower Umpqua river.

Each fall STEP volunteers begin the arduous task of trapping returning adult salmon, collecting and hatching eggs, raising the resulting Fry to Smolt. The Smolt are adipose fin clipped and released to begin the cycle again.

This is all accomplished with the hard work of STEP volunteers, generous support from local businesses, community members and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Support Us

Latest News

Watch her for the latest fishing news in Oregon

2023 GRWB STEP Salmon Derby Results

Dan Vasquz landed this 26.6-pound Chinook opening morning of the derby. It held on to 1st place throughout the derby even though several larger fish were caught but not registered[…]

Read more

Ladies Get It Done

With the GRWB STEP Derby just 10 days away these ladies show us there are salmon in the lower river and they can catch em’. Clair & Chris, Makena, and[…]

Read more

2023 Umpqua River Salmon Season Off To A Good Start!

The lower Umpqua River 2023 salmon season is off to a good start with anglers catching a number of fish in the 20 pound range so far during August. The[…]

Read more