ODFW Weekly Recreation Report

April 16, 2026

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

An additional day of Columbia River recreational salmon and steelhead fishing

Saturday April 18, at the Buoy 10 line upstream to Beacon Rock plus only the Oregon and Washington banks from Beacon Rock upstream to the Bonneville Dam deadline. Read the  Columbia River Action Notice

 

View the under the sea world up close!

Starting today through next week, minus tides are happening and it’s a great time to clam or go tidepooling. You can  check ocean conditions and tidal charts here. Reminder to look but not disturb this delicate ecosystem when tidepooling and always be mindful of ocean conditions and safety

 

Spring turkey hunting season opened April 15! 

Purchase your tag at huntfishoregon.com and view tips for your hunt area in the 2026 spring turkey forecast now available online.

 

The annual Harney County Migratory Bird Festival

will take place this week April 16 – April 19, 2026. Opportunities to view the spring migration in the Harney Basin abound and the event offers tours, programs, activities, art shows, social opportunities, etc.  Look to the provided link for more information: https://migratorybirdfestival.com/

 

Clean boats and other watercraft after use to prevent transmission of non-native species. ODFW Ashland Boat Inspection Station found golden mussels for the first time on a watercraft that was being transported from the Sacramento River Delta to Oregon on April 4. Mussels feed on food sources essential for native species and sport fish. They damage irrigation and hydropower systems and degrade water quality.

Drought impact on stocking schedules. Some areas are already too warm or shallow to support hatchery fish. Fish intended for those waterways will be diverted to other suitable lakes, rivers, streams and reservoirs. Check with your local ODFW office for the most updated stocking information.

Controlled spring bear hunting season open until May 31: Remember to check in and report your harvest. View tips for your hunt area in the 2026 spring bear forecast online.

Wildlife areas closed during winter are now open! Look for local wildlife viewing opportunities in 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 transporting fun and excitement to a lake, pond, or reservoir near you. Plan your next fishing adventure with family and friends.
• Grab a shovel, rake, and your shellfish license. Low tides make it easier to dig razor, butter, cockle and gaper clams.

Northwest:

• Many small streams, upper river reaches, and tributaries closed to steelhead angling on April 1, check the sport fishing regulations for the waterbody you plan to fish before heading out in April.
• Most North Coast lakes were stocked with hatchery rainbow trout. Grab your gear and head out to a local pond or lake for some epic fishing.
• Water conditions are good in most of the lakes, and the trout should be hungry and ready to bite.
• South Lake in Tillamook County will be stocked with a double load the week of April 13. Lake Lytle is getting weedy already; if you’re planning to fish there do some research on weedless fishing rigs to up the odds of success and reduce frustration! There is active logging on the South Fork Trask Road which leads to Tahoe Lake, anglers accessing the lake from Monday – Friday should use caution.
• Steelhead fishing on the Mid Coast has remained fair despite low water conditions. The expected rain this week should get some late winter steelhead and early summer steelhead moving, and the rivers should be in good shape by the weekend. There’s still a shot at landing a late season steelhead in the Alsea or Siletz as fish push higher into the system with less angling pressure.
• Anglers are reporting catches of early summer steelhead in the Siletz here and there.
• Siletz River HWY 229 is closed at approximately milepost 14 due to a large land slide covering the road. It will be closed for an undetermined amount of time.

Southwest:

• Trout stocking has opened opportunities for early success in local lakes and ponds! Call your local ODFW office for updates, as early drought conditions and road passage can impact the schedule.

Columbia River:

• See the fishing regulations update page.

Willamette:

• Spring Chinook fishing in the Willamette River is improving, particularly in the Multnomah Channel. The best weeks of the season are approaching to catch a prized springer!
• Several waterbodies will be stocked with trout this week.
• Check the Family Fishing event schedule and plan your next outdoor adventure this spring.

Central:

• Shevlin Park youth and disabled fishing pond, Prineville youth pond, and Pine Nursery Pond were recently stocked to provide excellent spring angling opportunities.
• Anglers are eagerly awaiting the Deschutes Lake (Odell, Crane Prairie, & Wickiup) opener on April 22. Wickiup Reservoir is 92% full and ODFW fish biologists anticipate an excellent kokanee season.
• Anglers continue to report excellent kokanee and bull trout fishing at Lake Billy Chinook. The Metolius Arm is fishing well with bull trout up to 31” being caught.
• The Crooked and Metolius Rivers continue to provide excellent early spring angling opportunities for redband trout and mountain whitefish.
• Fall River recently received its first stocking of 2026 and anglers report excellent nymphing opportunities near the hatchery and the headwaters.
• Low snowpack is allowing early access to lakes that are typically inaccessible in spring including North Twin and South Twin Lakes, Davis Lake, Crescent Lake, Cultus Lake, Lava Lake, Little Lava Lake, and Sprague and Century Gravel Ponds. The Lava Lake Campground and boat launch remained closed and access to Lava Lake is limited to small craft, kayaks and float tubes at this time.

Northeast:

• Kokanee fishing has been good on Wallowa Lake.
• Perch fishing has been good at Phillips Reservoir with some large fish caught.
• Steelhead fishing is good on the Umatilla River.
• Trout can still be found on Willow Creek Reservoir.

Snake:

• Catch bass and trout downstream from Hells Canyon Dam.
• As the weather warms, fishing improves for bass, perch, and crappie in Hells Canyon Reservoirs

Southeast:

• Lake of the Woods will be stocked this week with trophy and legal rainbow trout.
• Best fishing for wild, native trout in the Klamath Basin will be the Klamath River.
• The Upper Williamson River above Kirk Road Bridge is now open year-round.
• Nice holdover trout in the Malheur River below Warmsprings right now.
• Crappie fishing in Owhyee Reservoir has been good.
• Bank fishing for rainbow trout has been good at Ana Reservoir.
• 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

• PFMC adopted ocean salmon seasons at their meeting in Portland. These proposals are pending final approval by the Commission and U.S. Secretary of Commerce.
• The recreational all-salmon except coho season from Cape Falcon to the OR/CA border will continue through Oct. 31 from Cape Falcon to Humbug Mountain and through Aug. 31 from Humbug Mountain to the OR/CA border. The daily bag limit is two salmon.
• From Cape Falcon to the OR/CA border, mark-selective coho retention is allowed June 6 – Aug. 23 or until the 47,600 quota is reached. An all-salmon season will occur from Cape Falcon to Humbug Mountain for the month of September with a 27,500 non-mark-selective coho quota.
• Port by port reports:
• Garibaldi: Anglers landed just under 2.5 rockfish on average, mostly black, deacon, and yellowtail rockfishes. Lingcod landings were fair at 1 fish per person.
• Depoe Bay: Anglers landed just over 3 rockfish, with a mix of black, deacon, and canary rockfishes and a decent number of kelp greenling. Lingcod catches were fair with just under 1 fish per angler.
• Newport: Anglers landed around 3.5 rockfish on average, mostly black rockfish. Lingcod was slower with 0.75 fish per angler.
• Charleston: Anglers landed an average of 3 rockfish consisting of black, deacon, and yellowtail rockfishes. Lingcod was decent with around 1 fish per angler.
• Brookings: Anglers caught 2.5 rockfish on average. Lingcod was slower with just under 0.66 fish per angler.
• The offshore long-leader fishery gives anglers an opportunity to catch more fish and to distribute effort away from nearshore species. Learn more about the gear and the fishery. 

Refer to the zone reports for more details and possibilities.

Hunter Education:

Hunter safety conventional courses and field days are available now--Sign up now and get ahead of the game for the 2026 season!

Learn to hunt: Attend one of several skills classes to up your game before hunting season. View weekly list. 

 

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