April 30, 2026

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

Controlled hunt deadline is May 15: 

Don’t wait until the last minute to apply, especially for Eastern Oregon deer hunting as there are significant changes this year. Visit the Eastern Oregon Deer Hunting page to learn more.

Spring turkey hunting season is open until May 31! 

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

Controlled spring bear hunting season is 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.

Reminder the lower Columbia River is now closed to spring Chinook fishing. More opportunity may be added after a run update in mid-May.

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.

Plan your next adventure with one of many wildlife viewing opportunities in the weekly recreation report.

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 have been transporting fish 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:

• Spring Chinook are showing up in the Lower Columbia Tributaries with a few fish being caught in Big Creek and increasing effort in lower Gnat Creek.
• It’s trout time! Grab your gear and head to one of several local lakes and ponds that have received stocked hatchery rainbow trout.
• Water conditions are still good in most of the lakes (Lake Lytle is weedy), and the trout should be hungry and ready to bite.
• South Lake in Tillamook County was not stocked in March due to numerous downed trees on the access road. It was stocked with a double load the week of April 13.
• It’s not too early to be thinking about summer steelhead, and the Siletz can be a great option. The much-needed rain got some fish on the move last week, and anglers reported mixed catches of late winter steelhead and early summer steelhead on the same trip on the Siletz.
• Many Mid Coast lakes have already been stocked with hatchery rainbow trout this spring, and more are on the way! Big Creek Reservoir 1 and 2, Cleawox Lake, Thissel Pond, Woahink Lake, Carter Lake, Mercer Lake, Dune Lake, Alder Lake, Buck Lake, Sutton Lake, Olalla Reservoir, Siltcoos Lake, and Perkins Lake were stocked in April.

Southwest:

• Trolling at Lost Creek and Applegate Reservoirs should be very good this weekend.
• Howard Prairie and Hyatt Reservoirs will be full of legal-size rainbow trout and holdover trout should be good sized this year.
• Spring Chinook are being caught in the upper Rogue River.

Columbia River:

• The lower Columbia River is now closed to spring Chinook fishing. More opportunity may be added after a run update in mid-May. See the fishing regulations update page for current information or subscribe.

Willamette:

• Spring Chinook fishing continues to improve on the lower Willamette, with the Lake Oswego–Willamette Falls reach offering the best opportunities this week.
• 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. The Metolius youth and disabled fishing pond will reopen on May 1 with good numbers of large holdover trout.
• North and South Twin Lakes were recently stocked in late April with both legal and trophy rainbow trout.
• The Deschutes Lake (Odell, Crane Prairie, & Wickiup) opener was April 22. Wickiup Reservoir is 87% full and ODFW fish biologists anticipate an excellent kokanee season. Initial reports are that kokanee are abundant and in the 11-12" range this year.
• Recent ODFW sampling indicate good numbers of 17-22" holdover rainbow trout at Antelope Flat Reservoir
• 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 was recently stocked 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.
• Some nice trout are being caught on Willow Creek Reservoir.

Snake:

• Bass and trout can be caught downstream of Hells Canyon Dam.
• As the weather warms, fishing for bass, perch, and crappie will get good in Hells Canyon Reservoirs
• Some large crappie are being caught in Brownlee Reservoir

Southeast:

• Access to Fourmile Lake is closed due to bad road conditions.
• Best fishing for wild, native trout in the Klamath Basin will be the Klamath River.
• The Wood River below Weed Road is fishing well for Brown Trout.
• Crappie fishing should pick up in Gerber Reservoir with the warmer weather.
• 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 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.

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: Register for 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