Includes updates to fishing, crabbing and clamming, and hunting

Everyone belongs outdoors as we celebrate our 250th birthday!

After the parades are over and the BBQs wind down, Oregon offers many outdoor activities for you and your family and friends. Here are a few things to know before you go:

Oregon has world-class tide pools! 

They are best to explore during low tides—ideally a minus tide—about one to two hours before the lowest point. Always check an Oregon coast tide chart before you go, tread carefully on slippery rocks, step only on bare rock to protect marine life, and never turn your back on the ocean. Everything you want to know, courtesy of Oregon State Parks, is here: Oregon Tide Pools

Check the tide chart for the lowest tides of the summer this month! Annual razor clam conservation closures runs from July 15-Sept. 30, when it will reopen if domoic acid levels allow. The ODA food safety website lists closures.  

Many coastal basins will see expanded opportunity for wild fall Chinook harvest 

compared to last year, and wild coho fisheries will continue across much of the coast, offering a strong season ahead. Read about it here.

Columbia River sockeye season dates have changed 

due to low returns. Check action notices and the in-season regulations updates page for changes. Read the news release here.

Summertime fishing outlook:

ODFW biologists are monitoring drought and heat impacts on fish. Regulations may change in some areas, and access could be an issue in others. But there is always something to fish for and it could be a great summer to target Oregon's warmwater game fish. View the outlook for your favorite fishing zone this summer and good spots to target warmwater fish.

New Sauvie Island Beaches Parking Permit:

From June 15 - Labor Day, vehicles need 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 in the wildlife area (Willow Bar and Gilbert River boat ramp) and on summer weekdays. Purchase Sauvie Island Beaches Parking Permits online or through a license sales agent. Additional details about the permit are available at SauvieIslandParking.com.

Wildlife viewing

is at its peak this summer across Oregon! Find opportunities for wildlife viewing.

Clean, drain, and dry boats and other watercraft after each use to prevent transmission of non-native species. ODFW Ashland Boat Inspection Station found golden mussels on a boat and biologists recently found a single quagga mussel at Prineville Reservoir. Mussels 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, which will be diverted to more suitable locations. Check local ODFW offices for the most updated stocking information. 

Catch-and-release techniques will reduce fish streess and increase survival. 

• Land fish promptly to prevent over‑exhaustion and avoid beaching to minimize the time they spend out of the water. Rubberized nets prevent snagging and reduce injury.
• Keep fish in the water while removing hooks and wet your hands before handling fish to protect their slime layer.
• Barbless hooks and pliers or a hook remover tool make release quicker and less harmful.
• Gently support fish in the water until they swim away on their own.
• Avoid fishing during periods of high-water temperatures or poor water quality when fish are already stressed.

Wildfire season is here. 

Check access before you travel, and carry a fire extinguisher, shovel and water. Sign up for alerts and find the latest information on wildfire activity at the Oregon Emergency Management website.

 

Best bets for weekend fishing: 

• Bag limits are lifted for Thief Valley, Pilcher Creek, and Wolf Creek reservoirs. See the news release for more information: Bag limits lifted during drought
• Fish for trout or change up to warmwater game species. See the zone reports for best bets.
• Low tides make it easier to dig razor, butter, cockle and gaper clams.

 Northwest:

• Cutthroat trout are present in almost all areas open to angling and sea-run cutthroat are starting to come into tidewater. Be aware of daily bag limits, bait restrictions and angling closures.
• Spring Chinook fishing is going in Tillamook Bay, Nestucca Bay, the Trask River, Nestucca River, and Little Nestucca River. There are fish throughout the fisheries at this point. Fishing is slowing down in the bay but has been picking up in the Trask and Nestucca.
• Summer steelhead fishing remains fair on the Nestucca and Wilson Rivers with some nice fish being caught. Fish are dispersed throughout the fisheries. Cloudy, drizzly days and low pressure tend to keep fish more active and willing to bite.
• Hold-over trout from spring stocking in North Coast lakes provide opportunity. As temperatures warm, cooler higher elevation lakes will provide the best chances of success. Lost lake, South Lake, Hebo Lake, Lake Tahoe, and Town Lake are all good options for summer trout fishing.
• Warm water fisheries for bass and sunfish are active and provide some good opportunity for weekend fishing. Bass in Cape Meares and Coffenbury are healthy, abundant and big!
• Summer steelhead are on the move in the Olalla Reservoir and Siletz River. Multiple batches of summer steelhead were recycled to the lower river for additional angler opportunity since May. Recycled steelhead have a colored tag at the base of the dorsal fin. Please report tagged steelhead caught in the Siletz River to w.yann@odfw.oregon.gov with the date and general location where fish were caught to monitor recapture and harvest rates in the basin.
• Warmwater fisheries can be a great option this time of year. Siltcoos and Takenitch lakes have largemouth bass, yellow perch, and bluegill. Anglers can target the margins as fish move in for spawning. Recent surveys indicate that largemouth bass are doing well at both locations.

Southwest: 

• Trolling at Lost Creek and Applegate Reservoirs continues to be very good.
• Howard Prairie and Hyatt Reservoirs have plenty of good size rainbow trout.
• Spring Chinook are moving through the Middle Rogue. Anglers report success with plugs or plunking along current seams on the inside bends of the river. Early morning or evening in indirect sunlight is the best time to intercept migrating springers.
• Cooper Creek Reservoir looks nice and clear. Go earlier in the morning or fish deeper for success.
• This is a good time of year to look for cutthroat in the Chetco River estuary. The estuary has very little bank access. Please be mindful of out-migrating salmon and steelhead smolt. If you catch these young salmonids, consider switching to barbless hooks and/or moving to a new location.

Willamette: 

• Several waterbodies will be stocked with trout this week, however hot weather will most certainly impact trout stockings. Many of the valley ponds are already too warm to receive their usual stockings. Check the stocking schedule for changes or try warmwater fishing.
• Spring Chinook continue to be caught in the Willamette below St Johns Bridge and around Kelley Point Park. Target fish early in the morning on incoming to high tides with 360 trolling methods.
• Detroit Reservoir will be stocked again this week with about 7,000 trophy trout. Anglers are reporting decent kokanee catch.

Columbia River: 

• Steelhead fishing is improving, especially from Rainier downstream, and bank anglers caught a few sockeye over the weekend. Shad fishing is winding down but still productive for bank anglers at Bonneville Dam. See the fishing regulation update page before you go.

Central: 

• Stonefly season is winding down but good reports of nymph fishing on the lower Deschutes
• Anglers report excellent trout fishing opportunities at Lava and Little Lava Lakes
• North and South Twin Lakes were recently stocked with trophy rainbow trout.
• Shevlin Park and Metolius youth and disabled fishing ponds were recently stocked to provide excellent angling opportunities ahead of the holiday weekend.
• Anglers report abundant rainbow trout, kokanee and good fishing at Crane Prairie Reservoir and Paulina Lake.
• Positive reports keep rolling in from East Lake with large numbers of rainbow trout in the 16-18-inch range, trophy brown trout over 24-inches, and kokanee 13-15-inches.
• The Crooked and Metolius Rivers provide excellent fishing for redband trout and mountain whitefish.  
• Fall River was recently stocked, and anglers report good nymphing opportunities near the hatchery and the headwaters.  

Northeast: 

• Kokanee fishing has been good on Wallowa Lake.
• Perch are large and plentiful at Phillips Reservoir.
• Try Willow Creek Reservoir for trout, bass, and crappie.
• Smallmouth bass fishing on the John Day is currently very good

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: 

• It is catch-and-release fishing, flies and artificial lures only (no bait) for all species from June 15 to Oct. 31 on Upper Klamath Lake and spring-fed creeks that feed into them, a regulation in effect to protect native redband trout(so Upper Klamath Lake including Pelican Bay, Crystal Creek, Recreation Creek, Harriman Creek, Odessa Creek, Short Creek, Pelican Bay, Fourmile Creek, Thomason Creek, Fourmile Canal, and mouth of Williamson River. See news release.
• Willow Valley Reservoir is good for largemouth bass
• Black drake mayflies will be hatching in various rivers in the Klamath Basin.
• Lake of the Woods, Miller Lake and Fourmile Lake have hatchery rainbow trout
• The Wood River below Weed Road is fishing well for Brown Trout.
• Nice holdover trout in the Malheur River below Warmsprings right now.
• Crappie fishing in Owhyee Reservoir has been good.
• Perch fishing at Dog Lake has been good.
• Deadhorse and Campbell Lakes have a lot of good sized holdover rainbow trout.

Marine 

• See season dates for Pacific Halibut
• Bookmark the Salmon pdf for reference on 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 for ‘summer school’ to hunt this fall, space is limited! 

https://vem.myodfw.com/eventprofile/560 Shooting sports: Aim for a more successful hunt this season by attending one of the many skills events! Choose shotgun, rifle, or all of the above.

Are you planning to hunt in another state this year? Plan ahead and request your Replacement Hunter Safety Card now.

 

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