ODFW Weekly Recreation Report: Includes updates to fishing, hunting, crabbing, clamming

Use extreme caution when recreating. Check the Oregon Emergency Management wildfire dashboard for Closures, evacuations and conditions throughout the state, sign up for alerts, and check access before you travel. Keep a fire extinguisher, shovel and water in your vehicle.

Even after wildfire, leave wildlife wild

It’s still important to leave wildlife wild, even after a fire. Let wildlife move to suitable habitat on their own. Generally, there shouldn't be an increasing number of animals in urban areas after a wildfire. Don’t leave food out which will draw them to unsuitable areas. If you see increased activity, bring your pets indoors. Call ODFW, Oregon State Police or a licensed wildlife rehabber if you see wounded or injured animals though never assume a young animal on its own is orphaned and take it out of the wild, even after wildfire. More information.

Time your beach visit with a low tide and explore tide pools! Check tide levels.

Albacore tuna are back! Make sure you have your ocean endorsement when you hit the waves for this spectacular fishery. Learn more about Tuna Fishing in Oregon.

Razor clam harvest is closed from the Washington border to Tillamook Head for conservation. Areas south of Tillamook Head remain open. Check for domoic acid closures here:  Know before you go.

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.

Expanded opportunity for wild fall Chinook harvest in several coastal basins compared to last year, and wild coho fisheries will continue across much of the coast, offering a strong season ahead. Check the Fall coastal management page.

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.

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 stress 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.

Best bets for weekend fishing: 

• Recreational Albacore anglers are reporting success form multiple ports, about 35-50 miles offshore. See the Marine Zone for fishing strategies. Anglers are averaging 13.5 fish each!

• 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 clams and view tidepools!
• ODFW recently stocked Blue Lake, St. Louis Ponds, Adair Pond, and Bond Butte Pond with channel catfish. These fish, sourced from an approved facility, averaged approximately one pound each and are expected to provide excellent summertime fishing opportunities in these valley ponds.

Northwest:

• Trout season is open for Northwest Zone streams. See the regulation booklet for limits, open areas, and bait restrictions. Cutthroat trout are present in most areas open to angling and provide a good fishery in the rivers and streams that will continue to improve from now through the end of the season (October 31^st). Sea-run cutthroat are in the bays and tidewaters right now and fishing has been good recently.
• Nehalem Bay is starting to get “summer” Chinook. These fish are early returning fall Chinook that start returning to the bay and river in July and August. Anglers are already catching these fish. The Bag limit is one wild adult Chinook per day and five for the season (July 1 to Nov 30) as part of the overall daily bag limit.
• Summer steelhead fishing remains fair to good on the Nestucca and Wilson Rivers with fish dispersed throughout the fisheries. The rivers are low and clear so target first light and use stealth tactics to increase odds of success.
• Trout stocking in the lakes was completed for the spring with plenty of hold over trout in most North Coast lakes. As summer temperatures rise, look to higher elevation lakes that stay cooler for 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. Cape Meares Lake, Coffenbury Lake, Cullaby Lake, and Vernonia pond all have decent populations of warm water species available to catch. Lake Lytle has a good largemouth bass population, but it is very weedy. The bass populations in Cape Meares and Coffenbury are healthy with decent numbers and size of fish. The population is down in Town Lake.
• Summer steelhead are on the move in the Siletz River and fishing has been fair. Multiple batches of summer steelhead were recycled to the lower river for additional angler opportunity in May and June. Recycled steelhead have a colored tag at the base of the dorsal fin. Anglers are asked to please report tagged steelhead caught in the Siletz River to caleb.w.yann@odfw.oregon.gov with the date, tag color, and general location where fish were caught to monitor recapture and harvest rates in the basin. Additional summer steelhead have been recycled to Olalla Reservoir to provide angler opportunities.
• Warmwater fisheries can be a great option this time of year. Siltcoos and Takenitch lakes can be great places to target largemouth bass, yellow perch, and bluegill. 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.
• 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.
• If winds are light, Winchuck River and Sixes River estuary can be good places to target cutthroat.

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.
• 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.
• If winds are light, Winchuck River and Sixes River estuary can be good places to target cutthroat.

Willamette: 

• ODFW recently stocked Blue Lake, St. Louis Ponds, Adair Pond, and Bond Butte Pond with channel catfish. These fish, sourced from an approved facility, averaged approximately one pound each and are expected to provide excellent summertime fishing opportunities in these valley ponds.
• Several waterbodies will continue to be stocked with trout this week, however the upcoming hot weather will most certainly impact trout stockings. Many of the valley ponds are already too warm to receive their usual spring stockings. Check the stocking schedule for changes or try warmwater fishing.
• The North Santiam River above Detroit Lake gets stocked weekly during the summer.  There are several pull-outs and campgrounds along the river that provide good access. 

Columbia River: 

• Walleye fishing was good in John Day Pool. For the latest regulations for the summer management season, see the fishing regulation update page.

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 Twin Lake was this week with trophy rainbow trout.
• Shevlin youth and disabled fishing pond was restocked with rainbow trout this week.
• Anglers report excellent fishing for recently stocked and holdover trout at Three Creek Lake.
• Anglers report smaller than average (12-16-in) but abundant rainbow trout and 15-in kokanee and good fishing at Crane Prairie Reservoir. 
• Anglers report good trout fishing and excellent kokanee fishing at Paulina Lake. Kokanee at Paulina Lake is amongst the largest in Central Oregon this year averaging 13-14 inches.
• 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 continue to provide excellent angling opportunities 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.  
• Try Willow Creek Reservoir for trout, bass, and crappie.
• Smallmouth bass fishing on the John Day is currently very good
• Penland Lake is producing limits of rainbow trout

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: 

• Catch and Release for Redband Rainbow Trout with no bait is now required through Ocotber 31 on all Upper Klamath Lake including Pelican Bay, Crystal Creek, Recreation Creek, Harriman Creek, Odessa Creek, Short Creek, Fourmile Creek, Thomason Creek, Fourmile Canal, and mouth of Williamson River.
• Willow Valley Reservoir is good for largemouth bass, yellow perch and some large crappie
• Fourmile Lake will be good for 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 been producing a lot of good sized holdover rainbow trout.

Marine 

• It’s that time of year, when we see albacore tuna off the Oregon coast! Focus on areas where the chlorophyll level is approximately 0.25 mg. and sea surface temperatures are 58^oF or higher. Chlorophyll and sea surface temperature data is available from the Oregon Coastal Ocean Observing System (OrCOOS).  Learn more about Tuna Fishing in Oregon.
• See season dates for Pacific Halibut.
• Bookmark the Salmon 2026_Ocean_Sport_Salmon_Map.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 daysare available--Sign up for ‘summer school’ to hunt this fall, classes are filling up fast! 

Shooting sports:It’s not too late to improve your hunting skills for fall.Sign up for a rifle skills class or sight-in at a 3D bowhunter event.

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