ODFW Recreation Report


by OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Staff
3-9-2023
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Learn to hunt wild turkeys

ODFW will be offering four adult turkey hunting clinics this spring in Monmouth, Bend and Central Point. Learn everything you need to know to start turkey hunting this spring. For more details and to register.

Spring bear opens April 1

It’s the first big game hunt of the season. If you’ve drawn a tag, here are some spring bear hunting tips to help you take home a bear.

And remember, if you do harvest a bear, you must check in at an ODFW office within 10 days of harvest.

Spring kokanee fishing

Kokanee fishing starts to heat up in April, so it’s not too soon to start thinking about where you’ll go fishing. And here are 9 kokanee fishing tips to help you land your limit.

Best bets for fishing 

  • While ice conditions are still good at most popular ice fishing spots -- Fish Lake, Lake of the Woods, and Pilcher, Phillips and Wolf Creek reservoirs – ice conditions will deteriorate quickly with the variable spring weather. Better get out there while you can still do so safely.
  • The trout stocking season is well underway in the NW, SW and Willamette zones. 
  • Still no reports of the first spring Chinook caught on the lower Rogue or mainstem Umpqua, but there have been a lot more anglers trying.
  • There’s still plenty of good fishing for both wild and hatchery steelhead. Keep an eye on water levels. Once they’ve peaked after a good rain or snow melt, be ready to hit the river once they start to fall.
  • Don’t overlook winter trout fishing destinations like the Ana, Lower Deschutes, Fall and Metolius rivers. Just adjust your tactics to the winter conditions.

Need more details? Check out the zone reports.




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