ODFW Recreation Report


by OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Staff
2-8-2024
Website

Includes updates to fishing, crabbing and clamming, hunting and wildlife viewing

 

Two rods allowed for Willamette spring Chinook

Anglers will be able to use their two-rod validation in the Willamette River this year for hatchery spring Chinook and all other fish except sturgeon, beginning March 1 downstream of Willamette Falls and May 1 upstream of Willamette Falls. Learn more.

Report your 2024 hunts by April 15‌‌

If you purchased a tag for a 2024 hunt, you have until April 15 to report – even if you didn't hunt or harvest. Ways to report your hunt. ‌

Big game harvest statistics

You'll find links to population, harvest and point summary reports that can help you decide what hunts to apply for.‌

Best bets for weekend fishing

Trout and winter steelhead still offer the best bets for fishing. Here are just a few examples:‌

  • The Nestucca, Wilson and Trask rivers are the best options for winter steelhead on the North Coast.
  • The Mid Coast is finally starting to see the winter steelhead take off.
  • Fishing has been good for spring Chinook stocked in Lost Creek Reservoir and Fish Lake.
  • Winter steelhead fishing has picked up quite a bit in the middle Rogue.
  • Boat anglers may be able to float the Chetco this weekend as water levels have been coming up.
  • The spring trout stocking season is underway in the Willamette Zone and several waterbodies are scheduled to be stocked this week.
  • There are winter steelhead throughout the Sandy and Clackamas rivers. Keep an eye on water conditions and hit the water when flows and turbidity are low.
  • Winter fishing for brown and lake trout has been good at Crescent Lake, though access can be challenging.
  • Winter steelhead season on the Hood River is getting started as more fish come over Bonneville.
  • Thief Valley Reservoir is ice-free and anglers have been catching some nice fish from the shore.

This list is for demonstration purposes only. Check the zone reports for more options.‌

Shed hunt responsibly

Deer and elk shed their antlers at a time when they're not finding a lot of nutritious food and need to be conserving energy so they can migrate to summer ranges a bit later in the year. Follow these tips to help protect vulnerable animals.‌




More Reports

OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Reports
for Wednesday, February 7th
Fourmile Lake: The Lake is blocked by snow and is currently 27 percent full
Gerber Reservoir: The reservoir is not frozen
Upper Klamath Lake: The lake is ice-free
Klamath River - Upper - OR: Klamath River Report
Lake Of The Woods: The lake is open water and there will likely be no ice fishing this year
Pilcher Reservoir: As the ice continues to melt, bank fishing opportunities will improve
Sky Lakes Wilderness Lakes: Snow is blocking access and there's snow at all the lakes
Sycan River: Flows are high at 96 cfs
Thief Valley Reservoir: Thief Valley Reservoir is now ice-free
Agate Lake: Agate Reservoir continues to rise and is now 68 percent full
Applegate River: The release from the dam is 750 cfs, and the temperature at release is 43F
Arizona Pond: Good numbers of trout are swimming around the pond
Ben Irving Reservoir: Some anglers find more success using bait than lures
Coquille River: The North Fork Coquille River has been fishable this week
Elk River: Boat anglers are having pretty good success side drifting from Elk River Hatchery down to Ironhead boat ramp
Emigrant Reservoir: Emigrant is still at 29 percent full and filling very slowly
Fish Lake : Fish Lake is 55 percent full and trout fishing on the ice should continue to be good
Illinois River: The river is fishable and winter steelhead have been reported up to Green Bridge
Lost Creek Lake: Bank fishing near the dam was productive recently
Rogue River - Middle: The Rogue is currently in great shape
Rogue River- Upper: The release from Lost Creek Reservoir is 2,000 cfs and the temperature at release is 42.5F
Sixes River: River conditions have improved enough for anglers to start looking for steelead
Tenmile Lakes: Steelhead fishing has been good one day and slow the next on Tenmile Creek lately
Alsea River: Some early winter steelhead have entered the Alsea River basin
Kilchis River: The Kilchis is low and clear
Miami River: Fishing will be slow in the low water conditions
Necanicum River: The Necanicum River is getting low and we need rain to improve fishing conditions
Nehalem River: The Nehalem is in good fishing conditions
Nehalem River- North Fork: The North Fork Nehalem is getting low and clear
Nestucca River: The Nestucca has dropped into good fishing conditions
Salmon River: Early winter steelhead have been entering the system
Siletz River: Like the Salmon and Alsea rivers, the first big push of winter steelhead have entered the system
Siuslaw River: The Siuslaw is open for retention of hatchery winter steelhead
Three Rivers: Fishing should continue to be fair to good this week
Yaquina River: Winter steelhead will be entering the system
EE Wilson Angling Pond: Will be stocked again this week
Green Peter Reservoir: Green Peter is about 40 feet above the toe slope of Thistle Creek boat ramp
Santiam River ( North Fork) : River is currently running at around 9,700 cfs at the gauge in Mehama
Crescent Lake: Crescent Lake is currently 14 percent full
Crooked River: The USBOR has initiated flood control operations from Bowman Dam
Deschutes River: Flows on the Deschutes were high last week and the river had quite a bit of color
Haystack Reservoir: Haystack is currently at 76 percent full
Hood River: Steelhead counts over Bonneville are still low
Ochoco Reservoir: The reservoir is 59 percent full