Controlled hunt application deadline May 15. 

There are significant changes to eastern Oregon deer hunting, learn more here: eastern-oregon-deer-hunt-areas-2026 to learn m. Apply online until 11:59 pm or at a license sale agent during business hours.

Spring turkey hunting season 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 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.

States add Columbia River Spring Chinook recreation fishing days.

During a joint state hearing, fishery managers from Oregon and Washington added six additional fishing days downstream of Bonneville Dam and five additional fishing days upstream of Bonneville Dam on the mainstem Columbia starting on May 15. 

Shad may be retained. Read the article here: states-add-columbia-river-spring-chinook-recreational-fishing-days

New Sauvie Island Beaches Parking Permit:

From June 15 - Labor Day, vehicles will need to have a Sauvie Island Beaches Parking Permit ($10 daily) to park at Walton, Collins, and North Unit beaches on weekends and holidays. The traditional Wildlife Area Parking Permit will not be valid in these parking areas but can be used at other locations on the wildlife area (Willow Bar, Gilbert River boat ramp, Warrior Rock) and on summer weekdays.

Sauvie Island Beaches Parking Permits will go on sale June 1 and can be purchased online or through a license sales agent. Additional details about the permit are available at SauvieIslandParking.com.

Learn the fun of fishing!

ODFW staff and volunteers will provide equipment, and teach new anglers how to rig their line, cast a rod, land a fish and identify their catch at several upcoming events. A fishing license is required to participate. Learn more: workshops-and-events/take-family-fishing-event-schedule

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.

Wildlife viewing is a fun option with nice weather. Opportunities abound on the  myodfw.com/recreation-report/wildlife-viewing-report

Best bets for weekend fishing:

• Grab a shovel, rake, and your shellfish license. Low tides make it easier to dig razor, butter, cockle and gaper clams.
• 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!

Northwest:

• Spring Chinook are in the Lower Columbia Tributaries with fish being caught in Big Creek and Gnat Creek (there should be some fish in the Klaskanine River as well).
• Spring Chinook fishing is finally getting started in Tillamook Bay and Nestucca Bay with reports of a few fish being caught the past week. There have even been a few coming out of the lower Trask River up to hatchery hole, and there are probably low numbers in the lower Nestucca River as well.
• The Nestucca and Wilson Rivers should be starting to get some summer steelhead back into them and we’ve heard rumors of a few being caught. Fishing should continue to improve through June.
• Warm water fisheries for bass and sunfish are picking up as water temperatures warm and these fish start spawning. Cape Meares Lake, Coffenbury Lake, Cullaby Lake, and Vernonia pond all have decent populations of warm water species available for catching. Lake Lytle also has a good largemouth bass population but it is very weedy making angling a challenge. Recent sampling showed that the population of bass in Cape Meares and Coffenbury are healthy with decent numbers and size of fish, however in Town Lake the population is down with low numbers remaining.
• Currently, only the Siletz River is open for steelhead on the Mid Coast. Steelhead fishing on the Siletz may be slow in the transition period between winters and summers. Anglers have reported landing a few summer steelhead on the Siletz, but reports have been minimal with current low water conditions. The extended weather forecast is looking dry so this will likely slow fish movement. As a reminder, many streams are closed until May 22 for trout angling. Be sure to double check the regulations before heading out and be aware of seasonal angling closures.
• Many Mid Coast lakes have been stocked with hatchery rainbow trout this spring, but 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 all stocked during the month of April.
• As a reminder, many streams are closed until May 22 for trout angling. Be sure to double check the regulations before heading out and be aware of seasonal angling closures.

Southwest:

• Trolling at Lost Creek and Applegate Reservoirs continues to be very good.
• Howard Prairie and Hyatt Reservoirs have plenty of legal-size rainbow trout. Holdovers from last year are a good size.
• Spring Chinook are moving through the Middle Rogue and a few anglers are reporting success. Try plugs or plunking along current seams on the inside bends of the river to intercept them. Early morning or evening when sunlight is not directly on the water will be the best time to intercept migrating springers.
• There will be 1,100 rainbow trout stocked in the Rogue River above Lost Creek Lake this week. Fly fishing can start to become quite good as hatches are starting to come out. Catch brown trout in and around the North Fork Reservoir in Prospect.

Columbia River:

• Fishery managers from Oregon and Washington added six additional fishing days downstream of Bonneville Dam and five additional fishing days upstream of Bonneville Dam on the mainstem Columbia during a joint state hearing. Read the article here: states-add-columbia-river-spring-chinook-recreational-fishing-days

Willamette:

• Spring Chinook fishing was most productive this week below the St Johns bridge and in the Multnomah Channel.
• Several waterbodies will be stocked with trout this week, however the unseasonably hot weather we have been experiencing is most certainly going to impact trout stockings this season. Many of the valley ponds are already too warm to receive their usual spring stockings.
• Steelhead fishing has been productive in the Clackamas River, and more Chinook are showing up every day. Try targeting these fish with bobber and jig methods or spinners. Early summer steelhead returns to the Willamette River have been relatively strong, suggesting good fishing prospects on the Clackamas in the weeks ahead.

Central:

• Spring Chinook season is here on the lower Deschutes. Anglers at Sherars falls have been catching nice fish and the last day of the season is May 20.
• Hood River spring Chinook season is also here, peak of the season will be around Memorial Day
• The salmon fly hatch on the lower Deschutes is underway! Great fishing and lots of anglers
• Anglers that have been able to get on the water at Lava and Little Lava Lakes report excelling early season trout fishing for large holdover trout. See Announcements about access.
• 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 reopened 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.
• Wickiup Reservoir is 84% full and anglers report abundant kokanee 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, Little 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.
• May and June are some of the best months to start targeting smallmouth bass and long-term weather forecasts look great predicting excellent conditions for smallmouth fishing on the John Day River.

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:

• Salmonflies and golden stoneflies are hatching in the Klamath River.
• The Wood River below Weed Road is fishing well for Brown Trout.
• Crappie fishing is big hit or big miss 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 --Sign up now to avoid the summer rush, space is limited!

Learn to hunt:  

• Register now for a Bowhunter Skills or Bowhunter Safety Educationclass to improve your archery hunting success this season.
• Strengthen your game spotting in the field, attend one of the Observation & Glassing courses for pre-season scouting.

Shooting sports:

Challenge yourself to become a better hunter with a Rifle skills: Precision Hunter course.

 

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