Spring Whale Watching: 

Volunteers at locations along the coast will help people glimpse gray whales as they migrate off the Oregon coast this time of year. Last year, a rare orca was spotted by a Depoe Bay charter! If you want to know more about orcas, stop by the Depoe Bay Whale Watching Center March 27 and 28 from 10 am-4 pm, ODFW will be there.

Spring bear controlled hunt season opens April 1: check the 2026 spring bear forecast online.

Gobble up the tips for hunting spring turkey! 2026 spring turkey forecast now available online.

Mandatory Report Reminders:  

• Late season 2025 big game tags by April 15. Submit report.
• Trappers submit Furtaker Harvest Report by April 15.

Some wildlife areas remain closed to the public or closed to vehicles until April 15. Check Wildlife viewing on the weekly recreation report.

Reminder that a Rogue-South Coast Steelhead Validation is required for all winter steelhead anglers fishing in the Rogue Basin or on the South Coast from Dec. 1-April 30. A wild steelhead harvest tag is required to keep wild winter steelhead in this area.

Best bets for weekend fishing:

• As a general reminder for Anglers: Maximize distance from bank anglers and other boats. Safely row or motor around anglers and other boats and avoid motoring nearshore and in shallow areas!
• Trout stocking trucks are bringing fun and excitement to a lake, pond, or reservoir near you. Plan an outing with family and friends, a fun date, or enjoy some quiet time. Pack a cooler and stay awhile.
• Grab a shovel or rake and your shellfish license. Butter, cockle and gaper clams are waiting to be dug.

Northwest:

• Expect fair fishing over the next week on the North Coast. The Nestucca, Wilson, and North Fork Nehalem will be the best choices for finding hatchery fish while other basins (including the Little Nestucca, Trask, Kilchis, Nehalem, and Necanicum Rivers) all have catch and release opportunities for wild steelhead.
• It’s trout time! Most North Coast lakes were stocked with hatchery rainbow trout last week. Water conditions are good in lakes and trout will be hungry and ready to bite. See the stocking schedule link below for which lakes are being stocked. South Lake in Tillamook County will not be stocked this week due to trees on the access road. We will stock fish when the road opens.
• Coffenbury Lake, Vernonia Pond, Lost Lake, and Sunset Lake have all been stocked with hundreds of surplus hatchery winter steelhead (over 600 in Coffenbury) to provide additional angler opportunity. Catching a steelhead in still water can be a fun and unique experience and offer a chance for steelhead when the conditions on the rivers aren't good.
• Winter Steelhead is off to a strong start on our midcoastal systems. Anglers are doing well in the Alsea, Siletz and Siuslaw!

Southwest:

• Applegate, Chetco, Rogue and Umpqua South rivers may show an increase in winter steelhead activity with the recent rains.
• Trout stocking has opened opportunities for early success!

Columbia River:

• Regulation updates are now posted for the 2026 sturgeon fishery, and regulation changes for the 2026 spring Chinook fishery. See the fishing regulations update page.

Willamette:

• Check the Family Fishing event schedule and plan your next outdoor adventure this spring.
• Dust off your gear for the season on one of the local ponds, trout fishing is fun for the whole family.

Central:

• Shevlin Park youth and disabled fishing pond is stocked with trout!
• Broodstock rainbow trout were stocked into Haystack Reservoir, Ochoco Reservoir, Pine Nursery Pond, North and South Twin Lakes. This is a rare and exciting opportunity to catch trophy trout from Wizard Falls Hatchery, many in the 4-8 lbs. range. Only one fish over 20 inches long can be harvested each day to give everyone a chance to catch one.
• Anglers report excellent kokanee and bull trout fishing at the Metolius arm of Lake Billy Chinook, following the March 1 opener.
• Anglers report excellent nymphing opportunities on Fall River.

Northeast:

• McKay Reservoir is open as of March 1.
• Steelhead are throughout the Grande Ronde, Umatilla, Wallowa, and Imnaha Rivers. The best steelhead fishing is traditionally through March.
• Kokanee fishing has been good on Wallowa Lake.
• Anglers continue to catch trout from the shore near the boat launch at Willow Creek Reservoir.

Snake:

• Steelhead and trout fishing is good downstream of Hells Canyon Dam.

Southeast:

• Lake of the Woods was stocked with Trophy and Legal rainbow trout this week.
• Try taking the kids to fish the Running Y Pond this week for hatchery Rainbow Trout, pumpkinseed and largemouth bass.
• The Upper Williamson River above Kirk Road Bridge is now open year-round. Access remains available.
• Nice holdover trout in the Malheur River below Warmsprings right now.
• Crappie fishing in Owyhee Reservoir has been good.
• The Cascade Ramp at Hyatt is open. This year at Howard Prairie, the Grizzly, Willow Point and Klum Landing ramps will be available for the first time in many years. Biologists expect a temporary boost in productivity at Howard and Hyatt as large stretches of inundation zone are rewatered and producing aquatic food items again. Trout should be fat and happy!

Marine

• Anglers are landing rockfish and lingcod around Newport, Depoe Bay, Charleston.
• Crab quality is good as shells have hardened and are full of meat.
• Grab a shovel or rake and your shellfish license. Butter, cockle and gaper clams are waiting to be dug.

Refer to the zone reports for more details and possibilities.

Hunter Education: 

Learn to Hunt: Gobble up some new skills this spring--Register now for Spring Turkey Hunting Workshops--build the knowledge and confidence to pursue wild turkeys before the season opens.

Angler Education:

Fly-Fishing Workshop is open for registration, learn the basics to break into the world of fly-fishing. 

Help protect Oregon's wildlife: Turn in poachers

Poaching takes a serious toll on of Oregon's wildlife. You can help by reporting poaching when you take to the field or hit the water this season. Find out more about poaching in Oregon, including ways you can report it.

View the report