Established in 2019

Fish Report

ODFW Recreation Report

Photo Credit: Courtesy of ODFW

by OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Staff
3-18-2021
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Best bets for weekend fishing

Next week is spring break for many Oregonians, and folks already are making their outdoor plans for the week. If those plans don’t include fishing, maybe they should. Here are some top picks for this weekend and into next week:

  • Several waterbodies on the north and mid-coast have been or are being stocked, and anglers report good fishing. South Lake, Town Lake, Hebo Lake, Cape Mears Lake, Lake Lytle, Vernonia Pond, Devils Lake, Alder, Buck, Dune, Thissel Pond, Cleawox, Munsel, Elbow, Eckman, Siltcoos, Lost, Carter, Woahink, Mercer, and Big Creek reservoirs #1 and #2 are all being stocked in time for spring break.
  • There won’t be too many weekends left for winter steelhead fishing on the north and mid-coast. Your best bets for late season trips will be the Nestucca, Wilson, Alsea and Siletz.
  • Lots of trout are going into waterbodies in the SW zone, including Lake Selmac, Lost Creek Reservoir, Willow Lake, Cooper Creek Reservoir and Garrison Lake.
  • Anglers have been catching bright chrome winter steelhead in the middle and upper Rogue.
  • Many of the usual suspects in the Willamette Valley are scheduled to be stocked this week, including Alton Baker Canoe Canal, Cottage Grove Pond, Junction City Pond, Walling Pond and Waverly Lake.
  • Other waterbodies that were stocked regularly last year, are likely to have holdover trout available. These fish have been in the water long enough to have gained a good bit of weight.
  • Steelhead fishing on the Umatilla is picking up, with fish being caught near Pendleton. The fish are pretty active with the increase in flows and the water clarity is currently perfect.
  • When ocean conditions permit, many anglers have been catching their limits of lingcod.

New interagency map shows wildfire impacts on recreation

Hunters, anglers and wildlife viewers will be living with the impacts of the 2020 wildfire season for a long time. To help you navigate the status of popular recreation sites, natural resource management agencies in Oregon have released an interagency status mapthat shows open, closed and reduced service areas on a single map, regardless of reason for closure. 

Apply for your big game tags

Three reasons to apply early

  • Avoid the long lines of last-minute applicants.
  • Give yourself time for questions during the application process.
  • Have time to edit your application, if needed.

Archers: Practice your skills

3-D event at Denman Wildlife Area

Just in time for spring turkey hunting, archers can practice their shooting at a 3-D event on March 20 at the Denman Wildlife Area near Central Point. This 2-mile course will include 40 targets. For more information and to register.

Introduction to hunting big game in Oregon

This two-hour course will provide new adult hunters with a broad overview of hunting in Oregon and more specifically the knowledge to get started on their big game hunting journey. Check for dates and times, and to register for an upcoming course.





More Reports

OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Reports
for Thursday, March 11th, 2021

Ana River: Ana River is A Great Match-The hatch Fly Fishing River
Applegate River: Anglers Reporting Good Fishing Last Week Prior to The Rain
Ben Irving Reservoir: Fishing Should Be Pretty Good This Week
Chetco River: Fish Movement Has Been Slow & Fishing Pressure is Down
Coquille River: Steelhead Fishing Has Been Slow
Diamond Lake: Anglers Have Been Catching Some Nice Trout
Elk River: Anglers Are Doing Well on Steelhead This Season
Emigrant Reservoir: Reservoir is Slowly Rising
Galesville Reservoir: Reservoir is on The Rise
Howard Prairie Reservoir: Expect Weather to Bounce Around A Lot This Week
Illinois River: Conditions Are Looking Good Through The Week
Lake Selmac: Received Its First Stocking About Three Weeks Ago
Rogue River- Lower: Expect to Start Seeing Early-Run Spring Chinook Soon
Rogue River - Middle: More Winter Fish Are Showing Up Everyday
Rogue River- Upper: Winter Fish Are in The Mix
Umpqua River: River is Continuing to Drop
Alsea River: River is Now Low and Clear
Kilchis River: Kilchis is Low and Very Clear
Necanicum River: Still Some Opportunity For Catch and Release
Nehalem River: Mainstem is in Prime Condition
Nestucca River: Fishable and Should Be All Week
Siletz River: Steelhead Fishing Has Slowed Down Again
Siuslaw River: Still Some Fish Being Caught
Trask River: Trask is Low and Clear
Wilson River: Steelhead Fishing Has Been Slow to Fair
Clackamas River: Fishing is Beginning to Pick Up
Sandy River: Sandy River Report
Willamette River: Willamette River Report
John Day River: River Flows Have Been on The Rise
Eastern Oregon archery elk hunting changes being considered
ODFW Recreation Report


3-5-2021
  Best bets for Weekend fishing Water temperatures are warming up in many parts of the state. That might just put more fish...... Read More


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