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

Columbia River spring Chinook fishing is open for Memorial Day Weekend! 

Fish between the Tongue Point/ Rocky Point line and the Oregon/Washington state line upstream of McNary Dam. See specific dates, boundaries and bag limits here: regulation-updates#columbia-zone.  

Friday, May 22 is the trout opener 

for any rivers and streams typically closed over winter and early spring for the conservation of native fish. Reminder that angling for all species in streams above tidewater is restricted to artificial flies and lures May 22 - Aug 31 unless otherwise noted in exceptions. Check the regulations for your zone before you go: eregulations.com/oregon/fishing

Find links to the current fishing and hunting regulations, as well as in-season regulation updates. Anglers must check in-season updates before fishing, especially for salmon, steelhead and marine species.

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

Spring turkey hunting season ends 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 ends May 31. Remember to check in and report your harvest. View tips for your hunt area in the 2026 spring bear forecast online.

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 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:

• Many Mid and North Coast lakes were stocked with hatchery rainbow trout, and more on the way!
• Trout angling opens in the Northwest Zone streams this Friday, May 22nd. Visit com/fishing/northwest-zone for advice and opportunities near you.
• Summer steelhead are on the move in the Siletz River. A load of summer steelhead will be recycled prior to Memorial Day weekend. Recycled steelhead have a numbered tag at the base of the dorsal fin. Please report tagged steelhead caught in the Siletz River to w.yann@odfw.oregon.gov to monitor recapture and harvest rates in the basin.
• Spring Chinook are in the Lower Columbia Tributaries with fish caught in Big Creek, Gnat Creek, and the Klaskanine River. Fishing is slow to fair but still improving.
• Spring Chinook fishing is picking up in both upper and lower Tillamook Bay and the Trask River mostly below the Trask hatchery. There should be spring Chinook in the Bay and lower Nestucca River as well as in the Little Nestucca.
• The Nestucca and Wilson Rivers are getting summer steelhead, and anglers report success in the Lower Nestucca, mostly below Three Rivers. Fishing should continue to improve through June.
• Warmwater fisheries can be a great option this time of year and during drought! Siltcoos and Takenitch lakes have largemouth bass, yellow perch, and bluegill. Target the margins as fish move in to spawn. Largemouth bass are doing well at both locations. Recent sampling shows bass in Cape Meares and Coffenbury are healthy with decent numbers and size. Town Lake the population is down with low numbers remaining.

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.
• About 1,100 rainbow trout were stocked in the Rogue River above Lost Creek Lake last 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:

• Spring Chinook fishing will be open over the entire Memorial Day Weekend, from Friday, May 22-Monday, May, 25 after the states added additional days earlier this week. See the regs here, https://myodfw.com/articles/regulation-updates#columbia-zone.

Willamette:

• Spring Chinook fishing is productive 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.
• Steelhead fishing has been productive in the Clackamas River, and more Chinook are showing up every day. Try 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:

• The Central Oregon zone stream opener is Friday May 22 and includes the Metolius upstream of Allingham Bridge, Fall River below the Falls, the Deschutes from Little Lava Lake to Crane Prairie, and the Deschutes River Wickiup Dam tailwater. ODFW sampling indicates good numbers of large Brown Trout in the Wickiup Dam tailwater.
• Hood River spring Chinook season is here, peak of the season will be late May – early June.
• The salmon fly hatch on the lower Deschutes is underway! Great fishing and lots of anglers.
• Anglers report excellent early season fishing at Lava and Little Lava Lakes for large holdover trout.
• Shevlin Park youth and disabled fishing pond, Prineville youth pond, Metolius youth and disabled fishing pond and Pine Nursery Pond were recently stocked and provide excellent opportunities!
• Anglers report good trout fishing and excellent kokanee fishing at Paulina Lake. Kokanee at Paulina Lake are amongst the largest in Central Oregon this year averaging 13-14 inches.
• Recent ODFW sampling indicates good numbers of 17-22" holdover rainbow trout at Antelope Flat Reservoir
• 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.

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. 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:

• Access to Fourmile Lake is open!
• 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.
• 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

• See season dates for Pacific Halibut
• Bookmark the Salmon pdf for reference for your upcoming ocean fishing trips.

 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!

Register for Bowhunter Safety Education to receive certification that may be required in several surrounding states before hunting season begins.

Learn to hunt:  Strengthen your game spotting skills, attend one of the Observation & Glassing courses for pre-season scouting.

Shooting sports:  Register now for a Bowhunter Skills class to improve your archery hunting success this year.

https://myodfw.com/workshops-and-events/hunter-safety-educationhttps://vem.myodfw.com/eventprofile/705https://vem.myodfw.com/eventprofile/706https://vem.myodfw.com/eventprofile/560https://myodfw.com/workshops-and-events/observation-glassing-course-schedule

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