5 things to do outside this week

Need to get away? Then pack the car, a lunch and maybe the kids, and head outside to create your own Oregon adventure. There’s spring weather on way, fish in the water, birds in the air and a big sandbox to dig in. Here are a few suggestions to help you disconnect by reconnecting with the outdoors.

1) Bring some trout home for dinner.

We’re scheduled to stock more than 150,000 legal-size or larger trout the last two weeks of March. This includes heavy-hitters like Willow Lake, Krumbo Reservoir, Lost Creek Reservoir, Cape Meares Lake, Pine Hollow Reservoir, McNary Channel Ponds and Henry Hagg Lake, as well as dozens of other locations. There’s probably one near you.

Check out the weekly stocking schedule and trout stocking maps to find a location near you.

2) Chase a winter steelhead.

Winter steelhead are well-distributed in the basins along the coast and in the Willamette Valley. Low water levels will make fishing a challenge, so adjust to conditions by lightening up your line and lures, and looking for fish holding in deeper waters.

We’ve got some winter steelhead fishing tips to help, and you can learn more about current conditions in the weekly Recreation Report.

3) Catch and release a native redband trout.

For one thing, these strong, hard-fighting fish are a hoot to catch. For another, they live in some of the most beautiful locations in the state. Fishing for redbands in the Metolius, Crooked, lower Deschutes, Blitzen and Chewaucan should be on any angler’s bucket list.

With a stretch of warm, sunny days on the way, expect these fish to be hungry and biting.

4) Watch the spring bird migration at a local wildlife area.

This time of year thousands – actually hundreds of thousands – of birds migrate through Oregon on their way to summer breeding grounds. ODFW has 20 wildlife areas across the state that provide perfect locations for watching this show annual show that includes appearances ranging from busy “peeps” to majestic swans.

Here’s a list of wildlife areas to check out, and the Wildlife Viewing section of the Recreation          Report will have some recent updates on what’s been passing through.

5) Dig some bay clams.

Oregon bay clams – gapers, cockles, butter, softshells and others -- are easy to harvest and delicious to eat. You don’t need much gear (you can even rent a shovel or clam gun), the whole family can participate, and an annual shellfish license is only $10 (it includes crab, too!).

If it sounds like fun but you’re not sure how to get started, visit our how-to and where-to dig for bay clam pages.