Fish Report - ODFW Recreation Report

ODFW Recreation Report

by OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Staff
12-4-2025
Website

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

2026 Sport Fishing and Big Game Hunting Regulations are available in stores and online.

2026 licenses are on sale now and make great gifts!

Be prepared for winter conditions including high elevation snow. Check ODOT Trip Check online for statewide road conditions, closures and updates before you go.

Western Oregon archery deer general season reopened in some areas Nov. 22-Dec. 14.

Black bears can be hunted through Dec. 31.

Make plans to get your deer or elk tested for CWD, there are several options including at a field office, taxidermist or meat processor.)

Check the Game Bird Hunting forecast 2025 as bird hunting seasons continue through late January 2026.

NEW turkey hunting opportunity: Now through February 28, 2026, hunters may obtain a beardless turkey permit to allow the harvest of three hen wild turkeys or turkeys without a visible beard. See page 26 of the Game Bird regulations. This is a private land only hunt with separate regulations from the standard fall turkey hunt.

Several fishing seasons, limits, and species changes came into effect on Dec. 1. Be sure to check for updates before you go out. (Include link)

Find the weekly trout stocking schedule here.

Best bets for weekend fishing:

Winter steelhead are starting to show up in the North Fork Nehalem, Necanicum River, and Lower Columbia tributaries.

With many SW zone rivers low and clear, this may be a good time to fish in lakes and reservoirs. Go in the afternoon when conditions are a little warmer and the fish become more active.

Lost Creek Reservoir has had great reports by folks trolling for rainbow trout.

Steelhead fishing is good on the Umatilla River.

Reports of good dry fly action in the mornings lately on the lower Deschutes between Maupin and Warm Springs. Nymphing has been consistent as well.

Anglers report excellent fall fly fishing for bass at Davis Lake.

Anglers report excellent dry fly and nymphing opportunities on Fall River.

Anglers report good bank fishing opportunities for trout at Haystack Reservoir

Anglers report excellent kokanee fishing at Lake Billy Chinook.

Steelhead fishing has been good on the Grande Ronde, Imnaha and Umatilla Rivers

Yellow perch fishing is still an option in Recreation Creek, Pelican Bay Area of Upper Klamath Lake, Sevenmile Canal Mouth, and Fourmile Canal.

Best fishing for wild, native trout in the Klamath Basin will be the Klamath River.

There are some nice holdover trout in the Malheur River below Warmsprings right now.

Crabbing in Newport is fair. Crabbing in Waldport has been good. Crab quality is good as shells have hardened and are full of meat.

These examples are for demonstration purposes only. Refer to the zone reports for more details and possibilities. 

Hunter Education:

Hunter safety courses and field days are offered in-person or online, with an in-person field day. Find a course in your area and get a jump on it for the 2026 season!

For adults:  Waterfowl workshops and events are happening in your area. Learn new tips & techniques and bring a friend! ODFW classes and workshops run statewide, throughout the year, designed for adults 18 and older. Take advantage of future learning opportunities.

View the report

More Reports

Anglers report improved fall Brown and Lake Trout fishing as water temperatures cool

Crescent Lake

11-26-2025
Open to fishing all year. Anglers report improved fall Brown and Lake Trout fishing as water temperatures cool. Crescent Lake is...... Read More

OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Reports

for Tuesday, November 25th

Agency Lake: Agency Lake Fishing Report
Beulah Reservoir: Beulah is around 35 percent full
Blitzen River: The Blitzen River is currently flowing around 50 cfs
Burns Pond: Fishing should be good
Bully Creek Reservoir: The reservoir is 50 percent full and the boat ramp is usable
Campbell Reservoir: Snow will start preventing fishermen from reaching this lake soon
Campbell Reservoir: The reservoir will begin to freeze on the edges with freezing nights
Chickahominy Reservoir: Recent sampling indicates there are plenty of large holdover trout available
Delintment Lake: No recent reports but there are some nice holdover trout available
Fourmile Lake: The lake is currently 9 percent full
Gerber Reservoir: The reservoir is at 51 percent full
Upper Klamath Lake: Fishing for yellow perch can be excellent at the docks around Rocky Point
Klamath River - Upper - OR: Klamath River Update and Report
Krumbo Reservoir: Some very fat holdover trout in the 14-20 inch range are still being caught after stocking
Lake Of The Woods: Lake of The Woods Fishing Report
Lost River: Water quality is fair
Malheur Reservoir: Sampling last month showed there are some very nice trout in Malheur Reservoir
Malheur River: Malheur River Fishing Report
Mann Lake: Mann Lake was stocked with fingerling Lahontan Cutthroat last month
Miller Lake: You might encounter snow
Owyhee Reservoir: Owyhee Reservoir is 52 percent full
Owyhee River- Lower: Flows from the dam are around 30 cfs
Pole Creek Reservoir: Pole Creek Reservoir Report
Sprague River- North Fork: Best Redband Trout fishing is upstream of the lowermost 3411 road bridge
Sprague River- South Fork : Fishing will be best near Corral and Camp Creeks for brook trout
Willow Valley Reservoir: Willow Valley Reservoir Report
Yellowjacket Lake: Fishing has been good this fall
Applegate Reservoir: Applegate Reservoir Report
Ben Irving Reservoir: With recent cooler/wet weather, warmwater fish will be slowing down
Diamond Lake: Fishing is very slow as winter settles in
Emigrant Reservoir: Emigrant Lake is 20 percent full and the boat ramp may be difficult to use at this level
Expo Pond: Expo Pond Report
Fish Lake : Fish Lake is 59 percent full
Galesville Reservoir: The reservoir is about 40 feet lower than summer full pool
Howard Prairie Reservoir: Howard Prairie is 78 percent full
Illinois River: The Illinois River is open for trout fishing using flies and lures only
Lake Marie: The lake has been stocked three times this year
Lake Selmac: Lake Selmac Report
Lemolo Lake: Brown trout fishing should be good
Rogue River- Lower: Winter Steelhead should start making a showing in the next few weeks
Rogue River - Middle: Summer steelhead are throughout the Middle Rogue
Rogue River- Upper: The release from Lost Creek Reservoir is around 1,200cfs
Tenmile Lakes: Largemouth bass have fully transitioned to their late fall/winter patterns
Umpqua River: Anglers will start steelhead fishing in late November in the lower sections
Umpqua River- North : Coho fishing is slow
Umpqua River- South : The South Umpqua River will open December 1 for winter steelhead
Kilchis River: Fall Chinook fishing closes December 1st on the Kilchis River
Necanicum River: The Necanicum River gets a run of early returning hatchery winter steelhead
Nehalem River- North Fork: The North Fork Nehalem hatchery got the first few winter steelhead back last week
Nestucca River: Fall Chinook season closes December 1st, but there are still some late Chinook coming in
Trask River: Fall Chinook season closes on December 1st
Detroit Reservoir: Water elevation continues to drop to provide for winter storage capacity
Gold Lake: Gold Lake is now closed for the rest of 2025
Santiam River (South Fork): Flows are currently at around 1,140 cfs at the gage in Waterloo
Crooked River: Anglers report excellent fall fishing for trout and whitefish
Lake Billy Chinook: Anglers are reporting excellent kokanee fishing